A stingray named Charlotte, which puzzled aquarium teams when it appeared to be pregnant in the absence of any male stingrays, was actually suffering from a rare reproductive disorder, the aquarium team announced Thursday.
“We regret the delay in providing an update on Charlotte. This time was necessary to allow for data collection and analysis of laboratory and test results.” Hendersonville, North CarolinaA Facebook post by Team ECCO introduces the San Francisco-based aquarium and shark lab.
The aquarium said those tests “revealed that Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive condition, which is adversely affecting her reproductive system. This discovery is a truly tragic and unexpected medical development.”
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“Our top priority right now is to focus on Charlotte’s health and well-being. We continue to work with and receive guidance from veterinarians and specialists to better understand the disease and treatment options for Charlotte,” the aquarium said.
The group added that research into her illness is “limited.”
“We hope that Charlotte’s case and treatment will contribute positively to science and benefit other rays in the future.”
Team ECCO’s Aquarium & Shark Lab announced on May 30 that Charlotte, the round stingray pictured above, was not actually pregnant, but was suffering from a “rare reproductive disorder.” (Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab)
The team asked people to “respect Charlotte and her care team as we work through this unexpected news and work to determine the best way forward.”
A follow-up Facebook update on May 31 provided more details about Charlotte’s condition.
The aquarium said it is “actively seeking” additional information about Charlotte’s illness.
“Good morning. Many people are asking [for] “The reproductive disease is not listed by name, but simply listed under the text Reproductive Disease,” Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab said.
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The aquarium said it is “actively seeking” additional information about Charlotte’s disease, noting that while studies have been conducted on southern rays, nothing has been found so far on round rays.
Charlotte is a round ray from California.
On June 1, the aquarium announced it would be closed for the day to focus on caring for Charlotte.
Charlotte first hit the news in February after she appeared to be pregnant despite not living with a male of her species for eight years. (Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab)
The update comes about three weeks after Team ECCO’s aquarium and shark lab posted a cryptic update about Charlotte, which said the stingray had “shown little change” that week and would be undergoing further testing.
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“We appreciate your continued support and enthusiasm as we explore the uncharted territory of science and marine biology,” the aquarium said in a May 8 post.
The aquarium then disabled comments, sparking concern among some who had been following Charlotte’s story.
When Charlotte’s body began to swell, aquarium staff became concerned that she might have cancer. (Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab)
Charlotte first made headlines in February when Team ECCO’s Aquarium & Shark Lab announced that she was pregnant despite not sharing a tank with a male stingray of her species for nearly a decade.
The aquarium’s founder and executive director, Brenda Reimer, told Fox News Digital in February that they were initially concerned Charlotte might have cancer after the round ray began “swelling” in recent weeks.
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Lamar said an ultrasound showed Charlotte’s swelling wasn’t caused by a tumour, but rather, to her surprise, the egg.
It is thought that Charlotte may have possibly reproduced asexually or been impregnated by a male shark in the tank, and in February it was reported that she may be due to give birth soon.
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Stingrays can, in rare cases, reproduce without a mate in a process called parthenogenesis, Lamar said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab for an update on Charlotte’s condition.
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