The Shreveport Aquarium announced on Jan. 24 that it has played host to a very rare shark birth phenomenon involving its swell sharks. 

The aquarium reported that a swell shark egg was hatched without the presence of a male in the habitat which currently houses two female sharks. The egg was first identified about eight months ago by the aquarium’s husbandry team. However, the team says the egg may have been in the habitat undetected for up to two months before its discovery.

The egg has been closely monitored in the aquarium’s quarantine facility since its discovery. The pup successfully hatched on Jan. 3 with assistance from the team. The new baby shark was nicknamed Yoko, derived from the Chumash word for shark ‘onyoko.’ 

The two female sharks in the habitat had not been in contact with any male sharks in over three years. This means that one of two events occurred. One is a phenomenon called parthenogenesis, which is a rare form of asexual reproduction. The other possibility is delayed fertilization of an egg occurred long after a mating event.

The husbandry team will determine the exact cause in a few months, when the pup is large enough for a blood draw. The team will be able to karyotype Yoko; this DNA analysis can provide a definite confirmation of which phenomena – parthenogenesis or delayed fertilization – led to the pup’s conception. 

“This situation is incredible and shows the resilience of this species,” said Greg Barrick, the curator of live animals at at the aquarium. “We are very excited in the coming months to confirm whether this was indeed a case of parthenogenesis or if it was delayed fertilization. It really proves that life… uh… finds a way,” Barrick added, quoting famous fictional Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park. 

Yoko is thriving under the care he is receiving at the aquarium. However, young sharks born through such rare reproductive events often face significant challenges.

“Should Yoko’s time with us be brief, it will still leave an unforgettable legacy, contributing invaluable insights to the study of shark reproduction and conservation efforts,” says a statement from the aquarium.

Visitors cannot see Yoko in person yet, as he is currently being closely monitored off-exhibit for his health and well-being. However, the aquarium is excited to share Yoko’s progress on social media until he’s old enough and healthy enough to move to a larger tank.