(Photo: Pexels/ Brian Mann)
Some are already questioning Charlotte, the virgin stingray's pregnancy, because she's overdue based on the typical gestation of rays. However, an expert said that her pregnancy may be longer than usual for a reason.
Charlotte, The Virgin Stingray's Longer Than Usual Pregnancy Explained
Dr. Chris Lowe, a professor of marine biology and the director of the shark lab at California State University Long Beach, acknowledged that Charlotte's pregnancy was longer than usual because a typical gestation period among rays only takes three to four months. According to the Team ECCO Facebook page, she has been pregnant since December. Thus, she should have given birth by March or April.
However, according to Lowe, Charlotte's pregnancy could be taking longer than normal due to diapause.
Diapause is a temporary stop in development, and it turns out that it is somewhat common in rays. So, if the female is stressed or nutritionally underweight, she might pause her embryos. Lowe added that a handful of labs are capable of measuring Charlotte's stress hormones via a blood sample, similar to how stress is monitored in humans.
Lowe's statement about Charlotte's pregnancy came days after the aquarium released a statement and updated her on Facebook. In a statement on May 8, Team ECCO said that Charlotte had shown very little change in the past week, and they had aligned their expanded support and medical teams of qualified veterinarians for additional testing.
They are reportedly still in close contact with the team and are exchanging any updates or notes on Charlotte's observations. Charlotte also receives extra attention and care from the staff while they carry out this scientific procedure.
The team added that they value the unwavering enthusiasm and support as they explore the new frontier in marine biology and science.
The team's post was vague, and it wasn't clear what Charlotte's condition was. Also, unlike the previous posts, it didn't include any videos.
It also sparked rumors that the pregnancy was faux. One user took to X, formerly Twitter, and claimed that it ruined her night that Charlotte's pregnancy "may have been a cash grab."
ALSO READ: Charlotte the Stingray Gets Pregnant Without Male Mate; How Did It Happen?
How Charlotte the Virgin Got Pregnant?
Charlotte the virgin stingray's pregnancy caught the attention of the world. However, one expert said that she probably got pregnant through parthenogenesis.
Lowe says parthenogenesis is more common in sharks and rays than previously thought. This can reportedly be confirmed when she gives birth to a "viable young."
Although parthenogenesis is not unusual, Charlotte's case represents the first time the procedure has been reported in her species, making it the 15th species in total, according to Kevin Feldheim, a researcher at Chicago's Field Museum.
According to the aquarium, Charlotte is carrying up to four pups, and the team monitors her condition daily even though there aren't any obvious symptoms yet. However, the team has not been able to verify Charlotte's anticipated delivery date.
Lowe added that this is most likely due to the uncertainty around when she started generating embryos and whether longer gestation periods are required for parthenogenesis. Round stingrays typically give birth in three to four months, depending on the water temperature, a shorter gestation period than that of other species.
RELATED ARTICLE: Charlotte the Virgin Stingray's Pregnancy Is Already Overdue; Experts Fear Her Babies Could Be Dead
Check out more news and information on Animals in Science Times.
