Mystery of Pregnant Stingray Ends with Charlotte’s Death

In a curious turn of events, a North Carolina aquarium announced the passing of a stingray that had unexpectedly become pregnant this winter despite being without a male companion for several years.

The stingray, named Charlotte, resided at the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville. The aquarium shared on Facebook that Charlotte succumbed to a rare reproductive disease. Specific details about the illness were not disclosed.

The aquarium expressed its sorrow, stating, “We are sad to announce, after continuing treatment with her medical care team and specialist, our ray Charlotte passed away today.” They also extended their gratitude to supporters for their “love and support.”

In February, the aquarium revealed that Charlotte had become pregnant, a revelation that quickly made international headlines and was even featured by late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel and on “Saturday Night Live.” The pregnancy was especially astonishing because Charlotte had not been in a tank with a male stingray for at least eight years.

By late May, the aquarium reported that Charlotte was battling a rare reproductive disease and was under investigation to learn more about the condition. “There have been studies done on southern rays, but we have not found any yet done on round rays,” they noted.

In early June, the aquarium announced that Charlotte was no longer pregnant, leading to a temporary closure of the facility on June 1. In their recent update, the aquarium mentioned it would remain closed for now, with staff continuing to care for the other animals.

Charlotte’s pregnancy was believed to be the result of parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction where offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, eliminating the need for male genetic contribution. This rare phenomenon is observed in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds, and reptiles, but not in mammals. Documented cases include California condors, Komodo dragons, and yellow-bellied water snakes.