Parthenogenesis in an elasmobranch in the presence of conspecific males

Parthenogenesis in an elasmobranch in the presence of conspecific males

K.A. Feldheim, J. Dubach, L. Watson

ABSTRACT:

Parthenogenesis has been observed in several elasmobranch species, primarily in public aquaria. The majority of cases of parthenogenesis have occurred either when females were held without males or once a male was removed from a female’s habitat. Here we report a second instance of parthenogenesis in a zebra shark female that was housed with conspecific mature males. This study calls into question the conditions under which elasmobranch females undergo parthenogenesis.

Journal of Fish Biology, DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15268

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