Big-mouthed female shark that doesn't need a male

Imagine finding a shark in the middle of the desert, in one of the hottest most inhospitable places on Earth. Now imagine that shark living happily, yet alone in captivity. Now imagine that shark laying eggs -- without any contact with a male -- and those eggs hatching live offspring.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Catholic Online) - If this sounds improbable to you, think again, for it appears that sharks are capable of virgin births.

The female zebra shark in question is named Zebedee and makes her home in an aquarium at Dubai's most luxurious Burj Al Arab resort. The staff have observed Zebedee laying eggs before, but they have always assumed those eggs were infertile because Zebedee has never been in the presence of a male shark.

However in 2007, during a routine cleaning, hotel staff discovered that the eggs they assumed were infertile were quite the opposite. According to marine biologist and assistant aquarium operations manager, David Robinson, "we were actually moving the eggs, and one of the guys felt something move inside the egg, and we checked the eggs with light, and there were babies inside."

The subsequent discovery of live pups in the aquarium has surprised hotel staff, but not scientists. Scientists believe that virgin births occur in many species of invertebrates, and even in some vertebrates including several species of sharks. The phenomenon is known as parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction where embryos grow and develop without fertilization.

Scientists believe this is a sort of evolutionary ace, which some species can use during very difficult times -- such as when there are no males with whom to reproduce. 

An organism capable of parthenogenesis would be able to produce offspring and survive in situations where mates are unavailable. The children of such offspring will be very genetically similar to their mother, but not identical. Still, this is a genetic danger as the offspring will be closely related and commonly susceptible to disease.

It is unknown if all sharks are capable of parthenogenesis, but many experts believe it may be the case. Still, further research will have to be conducted to confirm if this is a trait common to all sharks or just particular species.

In the meantime mom and her pups, continue to thrive -- and reproduce in the middle of the desert, no males required!

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