Pregnant stingray updates — Charlotte dies after reproductive disease diagnosis as aquarium shares heartbreaking news
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CHARLOTTE the stingray has died after months of speculation about her medical mystery.
The Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO announced the heartbreaking news this weekend.
“We are sad to announce, after continuing treatment with her medical care team and specialist, our ray Charlotte passed away today,” the team said Sunday night on Facebook.
“We are continuing to work with her medical care team and research specialist.”
The update comes after Team Ecco shared in May that Charlotte was diagnosed with a rare reproductive disease in a "truly a sad and unexpected medical development."
Charlotte, who lived in a tank at a North Carolina aquarium, was previously thought to be carrying three to four pups in a "once-in-a-lifetime science mystery" because she reportedly hadn't shared a tank with a male ray in at least eight years.
The aquarium remains temporarily closed after the sad loss.
Read our stingray pregnancy blog for the latest updates on Charlotte...
'Zero' chance shark is the father
Despite speculation that Charlotte could be carrying shark "hybrid" babies, experts say it's biologically impossible.
Demian Chapman, senior scientist and director of the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s center for shark research, said there was "zero" chance of a shark-ray hybrid.
“I give a shark the same odds of being the father that I would give Elvis or Bigfoot of being the father—zero,” he told Forbes.
What is Parthenogenesis?
One possible explanation for the mystery pregnancy is parthenogenesis – a process by which some animals can reproduce on their own.
The eggs are able to develop on their own without fertilization and create a clone of the mother.
“I reached out to Dr. Rob Jones, the aquarium vet, and he identified the growths as eggs,” staff member Ramer said.
“We have no male ray. He said there have been few cases of parthenogenesis in rays.”
Dr April Smith, director of the North Carolina Science Trail wrote in a : “This means the offspring are, typically, all female, and this occurs in a situation where there are no males present (i.e., zoo/aquarium usually, or perhaps a secluded natural environment like the deep sea).
“It’s a survival mechanism that allows for the preservation of a species.”
Only known case
While there might not be any shark-stingray pups on the way, this pregnancy is no less remarkable.
Kady Lyons, a research scientist at the Georgia Aquarium, told the that this is the only known case of parthenogenesis in a stingray.
“We don’t know why it happens,” Lyons said. “Just that it’s kind of this really neat phenomenon that they seem to be able to do.”
Speculation over ‘shark hybrid pups’
Another possible explanation for the pregnancy is that Charlotte mated with one of the young sharks, according to Brenda Ramer, executive director of Team Ecco.
“In mid-July 2023, we moved two one-year-old white spot bamboo males (sharks) into that tank,” Ramer told .
“There was nothing we could find definitively about their maturation rate, so we did not think there would be an issue.
“We started to notice bite marks on Charlotte, but saw other fish nipping at her, so we moved fish, but the biting continued.”
Speaking about the stingray and her future babies, Ramer added: “We’re either going to have partho babies or we’re going to have some kind of a potential mixed breed, and we’re waiting for Jeff Goldblum to show up because we are Jurassic Park right now!”
Inside Charlotte's diet
The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO has recently reported Charlotte's daily snacking habits, which tend to be made up of shrimps, silversides fish, and scallops.
Stingrays are purely carnivorous, and their diets mostly include:
- Worms
- Clams
- Shrimps
- Oysters
- Snails
'There's no way'
Brenda Ramer, executive director of the Aquarium and Shark Lab, told that Team ECCO, her educational nonprofit, were stunned to find out about Charlotte's pregnancy.
“We were all like, ’Shut the back door," Ramer said.
"There’s no way.
"We thought we were overfeeding her. But we were overfeeding her because she has more mouths to feed.”
Tide pool is set up for the babies
Kinsley Boyette, assistant director of the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO, told Hendersonville’s that the stingray babies will be moved to the tide pool following their birth.
"When the birth happens, we'll get the babies moved to the tide pool," Boyette said.
"It's like our little nursery tank. We have it set up for the babies."
"We're just hoping for happy and healthy babies," she added.
There are three cameras watching Charlotte
Kinsley Boyette, assistant director of the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO, told Hendersonville’s that there are three cameras set up to watch Charlotte's every move.
"We are surveilling them all throughout the night and all throughout the day if we are not here," Boyette said.
"We are on pup watch. That's also to keep the pups safe.
"It would be amazing if we capture the birth on video. If she hides behind rocks, we're going to try to get the best clip of it that we can. She will do whatever she wants to do."
Charlotte has been at the aquarium since 2016
Kinsley Boyette, assistant director of the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO, told Hendersonville's that Charlotte has been at the North Carolina aquarium since 2016.
"We estimate she's between 12-14 years old," Boyette told the outlet.
"We got her from a private home in the city of Charlotte, which is how she got her name.
"We got her because they did not want her anymore, so we gladly took her in. It was a great adoption, and ever since, she's been amazing."
Post-birth plans revealed
Team Ecco founder Brenda Ramer plans to move Charlotte to a larger tank with her offspring after the birth, according to
The tank will reportedly have live cameras so spectators can observe the newborn stingrays.
Charlotte could deliver at any time
Team Ecco founder Brenda Ramer previously said that the team at the aquarium anticipated Charlotte delivering around February 9.
However, Charlotte has not yet given birth to the pups.
The sting ray is expected to deliver at any time.
New footage of Charlotte
In the update shared on social media today, Charlotte was seen swimming around in her tank with other fish.
Credit: Facebook / Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO Fans want a live stream
In the comments section of the aquarium's latest update on Charlotte, fans of the stingray are begging for a live stream to monitor the fish.
"Are you guys going to set up a live feed for the birth?? I'm so invested!" one Facebook user wrote.
"You have an entire generation that planned events around watching April the Giraffe… we need a live cam of Charlotte," another weighed in.
Yesterday's menu revealed
On February 20, the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO posted an update about Charlotte to Instagram.
The aquarium shared that Charlotte ate shrimp and silversides that day.
"No changes in behavior,," the caption said.
"Still waiting…"
'It is our gift'
Team Ecco founder Brenda Ramer reminded viewers that Charlotte's unique experience is a "gift" to science-lovers.
"Charlotte is a special and lovely fish," the February 11 post said.
"We are sharing her experience with you as a way to learn together. It is our gift. Please, do not disqualify our event.
"Just because something has not happened or has not been documented does not make it impossible," Ramer continued.
"Science is discovery. And besides, none of us know what has happened in the big ocean because we are not always there.
"Team ECCO was founded to reach, to teach and to dream," the message concluded.
Team shared a message to fans
As Charlotte's story reaches more fans everyday, the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO posted a message to Facebook users.
"With all of the interest and chaos surrounding Charlotte, I am going to ask that you please do not use our platform for wonder and research to make a personal stand or comments to prove yourself and your knowledge to other readers," Team Ecco founder Brenda Ramer wrote.
"We are a very unique site, with staff and volunteers who work hard to care for our Marine and reptile residents.
"We research and train and promote science education and adventure."
'Girl hurry up'
Fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, are telling Charlotte the stingray to "hurry up" as she's set to give birth soon.
Today's update shared
The Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO has posted today's update with a video of Charlotte swimming around in her tank - and the team member revealed that the stingray has had lots of visitors lately.
"Everyone loved seeing Miss Charlotte," the worker said, adding that she's still eating normally.
Charlotte had shrimp, silversides, and some scallops to eat today.
Fans want updates
While Charlotte is due to give birth any day now, she's grown quite a following as social media users are intrigued by the mystery pregnancy.
Fans are now demanding updates on the aquarium's Instagram page as the hasn't posted about the stingray since yesterday.
"We need an update on Charlotte!" one fan demanded on a recent post as dozens of others asked about Charlotte's wellbeing and due date in the comments section.
Process is incredibly rare
Charlotte's pregnancy had been deemed “a once-in-a-lifetime science mystery,” by the aquarium.
The process is incredibly rare, but has also been seen in other kids of sharks and rays while in human care.
These "virgin births" are thought to be the key to protecting endangered species, and rowing them back from the edge of extinction.
'We don't know why it happens'
Expert Kady Lyons told the that Charlotte reproduced all on her own through a process called parthenogenesis.
“We don’t know why it happens,” Lyons said.
“Just that it’s kind of this really neat phenomenon that they seem to be able to do.”
Expert says hybrids are 'impossible'
Expert Kady Lyons, whose graduate work focused on the stingray species, has now said it would have been "impossible" for Charlotte the stingray to conceive the first scientifically documented stingray-shark hybrid.
This is due to the anatomical and size differences between Charlotte and the bamboo sharks.
Lyons, a research scientist at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, said Charlotte’s pregnancy is the only documented example she’s aware of for round stingrays.
“I’m not surprised, because nature finds a way of having this happen,” she said.
Lyons added: “We should set the record straight that there aren’t some shark-ray shenanigans happening here."
Speculation over 'shark hybrid pups'
Another possible explanation for the pregnancy is that Charlotte mated with one of the young sharks, according to Brenda Ramer, executive director of Team Ecco.
"In mid-July 2023, we moved two one-year-old white spot bamboo males (sharks) into that tank," Ramer told .
"There was nothing we could find definitively about their maturation rate, so we did not think there would be an issue.
“We started to notice bite marks on Charlotte, but saw other fish nipping at her, so we moved fish, but the biting continued.”
Speaking about the stingray and her future babies, Ramer added: “We’re either going to have partho babies or we’re going to have some kind of a potential mixed breed, and we’re waiting for Jeff Goldblum to show up because we are Jurassic Park right now!”
Parthenogenesis explained
One possible explanation for the mystery pregnancy is parthenogenesis - a process by which some animals can reproduce on their own.
The eggs are able to develop on their own without fertilization and create a clone of the mother.
"I reached out to Dr. Rob Jones, the aquarium vet, and he identified the growths as eggs," staff member Ramer said.
"We have no male ray. He said there have been few cases of parthenogenesis in rays."
Dr April Smith, director of the North Carolina Science Trail wrote in a : "This means the offspring are, typically, all female, and this occurs in a situation where there are no males present (i.e., zoo/aquarium usually, or perhaps a secluded natural environment like the deep sea).
"It’s a survival mechanism that allows for the preservation of a species."
Ultrasound pictures revealed
Team Ecco staff at the Aquarium and Shark Lab shared Charlotte's ultrasound pictures, which revealed that the stingray is carrying three or four pups.
Credit: Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO/Facebook
