Sharks 'virgin' spawns at Nha Trang aquarium

Two shark sharks that live in the aquarium VinPearlland (Nha Trang) have spawned themselves without males. After incubation for nearly 5 months, the first single shark was born, 18cm in total length.

There is absolutely no male shark presence in the aquarium. According to experts at Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, this is an unusual phenomenon in nature and is the first time in Vietnam sharks born single.

Two mother sharks live in Vinpearlland aquarium for over a year now. After one year, the first female (more than 2.5m long) begins to produce the first batch of eggs. The single baby fish just born in late June hatched from among the eggs.

Newly hatched eggs and shark sharks. (Photo: Tuong Vi).

So far, the second mother (more than 2m long) has begun to give birth. In more than 10 eggs collected, more than half have no yolk (similar to the egg yolk) inside. Eggs with yolk may start to develop internal juvenile embryos, which continue to be fed by the aquarium.

An expert at the Oceanographic Institute said that reproductive sex, also known as virgin reproduction , occurs when eggs develop themselves like embryos without sperm of the male. This phenomenon is common in some insects but rarely in fish, reptiles and has never been detected in mammals.

" Until now, sharks have not yet been considered to be monogamous. This phenomenon has only been discovered once in the US. This is the first time in Vietnam. However, want information. more precisely, DNA testing is required , "the expert said.

The baby shark has a single-day-old birth. (Photo: Tuong Vi)

The Institute of Oceanography said that this is a very important discovery and has special significance in the conservation of sharks. In nature, sharks are the target of hunting, causing the number of these animals to decline significantly in recent times.

Currently, Vinpearlland aquarium is raising 7 species of sharks, all of which are in the world red book, endangered.