Endangered, giant sawfish reproducing with immaculate conception

An endangered fish that usually reproduces via traditional means – that is, by having sex – has shocked the scientific community by reproducing asexually.

Although asexual reproduction, known technically as parthenogenesis, is common among invertebrates, virgin births are incredibly rare among creatures with backbones.

Now parthenogenesis – that is, the process of an unfertilised egg developing into an embryo – has been observed in Floridian smalltooth sawfish, as detailed in a report published in Current Biology.

The study, which was undertaken to find out whether Florida's sawfish population was inbreeding due to low numbers, found that around three percent of the sawfish had only one parent – a mother.

According to the report, it's the first time parthenogenesis has been observed in the wild, although it has been seen in captivity before.

“We have seen it in sharks, reptiles and birds in captivity, but never before have we seen a free living individual in the wild," the report's lead author, Andrew Fields, told Motherboard.

"Therefore it is possible that this happens in more species be we just haven’t been looking for it."

While the researchers aren't sure why the fish have begun to reproduce asexually, Mr Fields suspects it may have something to do with the species being critically endangered, but stressed that further research would have to be carried before that can be determined.

Source: Motherboard