A stingray that mysteriously became pregnant earlier this year, despite not being in the same tank as a male stingray, died over the weekend.
Charlotte, a rust-colored round stingray, died of a rare reproductive condition, according to the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO, the North Carolina aquarium where she resided.
In February, Charlotte was rumored to be carrying up to four babies.
Her pregnancy was most likely the result of parthenogenesis, a kind of asexual reproduction in which a female egg is fertilized without the need for male sperm.
This phenomenon happens in reptiles, insects, and certain fish.
When it was first revealed that she was pregnant, some speculated that she had been impregnated by one of two “very young male sharks” that also lived in her tank.
Initially, the aquarium expected Charlotte to give birth in late February, but she never did.
The aquarium stated in May that she had a condition that had “negatively impacted her reproductive system.”
“The findings are truly a sad and unexpected medical development,” the aquarium announced at the time.
By June, the aquarium reported that she was no longer pregnant and was in stable condition.
“Charlotte continues to be in her normal routine and content,” the aquarium stated.
After her death on Sunday, the aquarium closed on Monday.
Many people around the United States watched her pregnancy, which was featured in a Saturday Night Live spoof in March.
The aquarium stated that it will continue to collaborate with her medical care staff and the researcher.
It stated also that it “appreciates your continued love and support while we navigate this great loss.”
