Team ECCO, the Hendersonville-based group responsible for Charlotte the stingray, posted their latest weekly Facebook update on Friday, May 17.
The group says Charlotte is pregnant despite having no mate, a rare case of parthenogenesis.
Similarly to Team ECCO's May 8 update, not much info was added to what fans already know. According to this week's post, Charlotte continues to appear healthy, with little to no change in her behavior and temperament.
The aquarium's last post on May 8 mentioned the unfamiliar nature of Charlotte's parthenogenetic pregnancy, in which the cells in her eggs developed without fertilization from another animal. They also mentioned for the first time that the team is now working directly with qualified veterinarians to handle Charlotte's care.
The team promised that, in the case of any further developments, new information would be shared directly.
"We appreciate your support as we continue our care for Charlotte and strive to better understand this area of science," the May 17 Facebook post said.
What aquarium does Charlotte the stingray live in?
Charlotte is located at the Hendersonville Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO. The aquarium also features 6,000 gallons of saltwater exhibits and dozens of reptiles for public viewing.
Charlotte the stingray due date: Did Charlotte the stingray give birth yet?
ECCO staff first saw signs of Charlotte's pregnancy in September 2023. She has not yet given birth as of May 17, 2024, meaning that her pregnancy has been significantly longer than many fans expected.
How long is a stingray pregnant?
The average gestation period for stingrays is three to four months according to previous reporting from Blueridgenow, but Team ECCO has reminded fans that there is no known data for parthenogenetic pregnancies.
"Charlotte's pregnancy is a unique situation," a Team ECCO employee explained in a recent post. "There is no set precedent on how long a parthenogenetic pregnancy is in this species. Charlotte is the first known documented California round stingray to do parthenogenesis in captivity."
In previous interviews, ECCO staff said that Charlotte was being observed day and night to ensure that any pups delivered are safe and healthy, and in hopes to capture the birth on video.
What kind of stingray is Charlotte the stingray?
Charlotte is a round stingray, found in the wild in the Eastern Pacific, from Humboldt Bay in northern California south to the Gulf of California and Panama City, Panama, according to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
Most Popular
Comments / 0