Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, Mar 19, 2026
Outside the box.
First Case of 'Virgin Birth' in Endangered Shark Species in Italy
Italian researchers have observed the first virgin birth in endangered common smooth-hound sharks. The study documented two female sharks reproducing asexually at the Cala Gonone Aquarium in Sardinia. The discovery advances understanding of parthenogenesis and suggests an adaptive strategy in marine species.
Italian researchers have observed the first case of 'virgin birth' or reproduction without fertilization in endangered common smooth-hound sharks.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, involved two female Mustelus mustelus sharks at the Cala Gonone Aquarium in Sardinia, where they have lived since 2010.
Researchers from the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria, and the Aosta Valley documented that the sharks exhibited parthenogenesis, reproducing asexually each year since 2020.
This discovery excludes long-term sperm storage and suggests a potential adaptive strategy in response to male population reduction.
The findings contribute to the understanding of parthenogenesis, which occurs in over 15,000 species but is not yet fully understood, particularly in vertebrates.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, involved two female Mustelus mustelus sharks at the Cala Gonone Aquarium in Sardinia, where they have lived since 2010.
Researchers from the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria, and the Aosta Valley documented that the sharks exhibited parthenogenesis, reproducing asexually each year since 2020.
This discovery excludes long-term sperm storage and suggests a potential adaptive strategy in response to male population reduction.
The findings contribute to the understanding of parthenogenesis, which occurs in over 15,000 species but is not yet fully understood, particularly in vertebrates.
