Rare Virgin Shark Births Reported in Detroit 78
randomErr writes "Voice of America reported that 'Officials at Detroit's Belle Isle Aquarium say a shark there recently produced three babies in an event they are calling virgin births. The mother, a white spotted bamboo shark has lived at the aquarium without any male counterparts for the past six years.'"
Re:KILL THE SHARK (Score:1)
Re:KILL THE SHARK (Score:2)
Re:KILL THE SHARK (Score:1)
Hmm... (Score:3, Interesting)
I wasn't able to find the species of shark in Detroit, but the one in Omaha was a bonnethead.
Makes for some very odd news...
Re:Hmm... (Score:3, Informative)
HTH.
Reason to worry? (Score:3, Funny)
And were those little sharks or human babies? Now I'd start worrying if it's the latter...
it's a frickin miracle (Score:4, Funny)
Can't help it... (Score:1)
On the other hand, maybe "oh, gees" (plural of "oh, gee") would do.
Re:Can't help it... (Score:1)
Too Much Hoopla (Score:5, Interesting)
All in all, I suspect there is nothing miraculous about reproduction. My guess is either the shark has weird 6 year gestation or that the shark was a builtin survival mechanism where if it does not produce offspring for a long time it essentially clones itself by reproducing from its own sole DNA.
Re:Too Much Hoopla (Score:2, Funny)
I agree... I think that's how I was born.
Re:Too Much Hoopla (Score:2)
Yeah man... I've seen your mom... I can see how she wouldn't have had sex for 6 years! Yikes!
T
Re:Too Much Hoopla (Score:2, Funny)
Maybe we need to do spend more time studying their reproductive systems and less time poking them in the testicles until they lunge at the poor steak-sauce covered cameraman in the cage in order to scare the folks at home.
jf
Re:Too Much Hoopla (Score:1)
Yes, I know you are kidding.
goes to show (Score:2, Interesting)
-tid242
Re:Too Much Hoopla (Score:1)
It's probably a survival mechanism. It also occurs in humans, but is exceedingly rare (I don't remember the medical term for it). Something like only 3 cases ever recorded in the US.
Re:Too Much Hoopla (Score:1)
Second Coming (Score:1)
Re:Second Coming (Score:1)
Soo..... (Score:3, Funny)
Remember - just because you can doesn't mean you should.
-Adam
Re:Soo..... (Score:1)
Female geeks (Score:1)
Of course the odds of finding a virgin geek "tout court" are quite high.
Re:Female geeks (Score:1)
Re:Female geeks (Score:1)
Single geeks (Score:2, Funny)
Busted... damn! (Score:5, Funny)
Stop sneaking into aquariums and having sexual intercourse with the sharks.
Re:Busted... damn! (Score:2, Funny)
"I thought you told me he was dead."
"No, I said he sleeps with the fishes."
Re:Busted... damn! (Score:2)
we must exterminate them immediately (Score:3, Funny)
There actually could be some very interesting spinoffs to shark-targeting torpedos.
JAWSUS CHRIST!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:JAWSUS CHRIST!!!! (Score:2)
Although it is going to be weird when the next generation prays to sharks.
"Oh Great Chompy! We gather to worship Thou."
Stored sperm (Score:4, Insightful)
Mod parent up! (Score:1)
Re:Mod parent up! (Score:1)
Re:Stored sperm (Score:1)
Or parthenogenesis, maybe? (Score:1)
In other news... (Score:3, Funny)
Richard Simmons, popular television motivational speaker for the obese (and a rampant homosexual), miraculously gave birth to triplets last Thursday. Authorities are still coming to consensus as to the biological classification of the "lil' rascals," as Simmons calls them, but they have agreed definitively that they are not human. "The babies have large amounts of hair both on their heads and on their chests, and yet their testosterone level is actually near zero," said one doctor, present at the birth, who declined to disclose his name. "This, among other things, does not support any traits of humans."
"It's about time my New Year's Resolution came true," said the 54 year old. "Is it too much to ask to have a few bundles of sunshine of my own?" As he said this, he picked up infant Rupert, the first of the babies who left the alleged "birth canal," and began to sing "You Are my Sunshine" softly.
Not all are pleased about this, however. Many in the nearby community have expressed outrage at the newest three members of the community. "I don't want my newborn going to school with them 5 years from now. Either they move, or I do," said a local resident. Others fear the sudden emergence of yet three more to bear the Simmons name. "That guy was pregnant? Christ, we already have like four Baldwins, and we know how bad that is. Well, this will definately be worse," said another in outrage.
Though a controversial topic with much uncertainty and doubt with respect to the outcome, the fact that this was indeed a conception without sexual contact is universally accepted.
Richard Simmons (Score:2)
So in the interests of fairness... you can't say he's a rampant homosexual. Because we don't know one way or another and he wants to keep us in the dark.
I actually respect that position an awful lot. Nowadays, saying my sex life is none of your goddamned business is a hell of a lot more daring and principled a position than, say, publically acknowledging you like to use date-rape drugs on marmosets.
Hmmm (Score:2)
oh dear (Score:1)
It does happen (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:It does happen (Score:2)
Sure.. they'd *like* to have a mate... but if they don't.. oh well...
Sounds like Jurassic Park (Score:1)
This raises some interesting questions about survival and evolution.
Shark sperms can swim for long distances (Score:4, Funny)
How did the sperm leave your dad without your mom? (Score:1)
Sinners, REPENT! (Score:2, Funny)
including (but not limited to), the cast of:
Jaws [imdb.com]
Jaws 2 [imdb.com]
Jaws: The Revenge [imdb.com]
etc. etc.
Yes! (Score:1)
(If you don't get it, see my slashdot handle..yes, lame joke)
an idea (Score:5, Funny)
What came first; the chicken or the egg?
now we can all say, the hermaphrodite chicken!!, lol
quick... (Score:1)
fish & frogs (Score:1)
This led me to think that if it happens in humans it could very well be that the woman is exponentially behind on the evolutionary scale.
Re:fish & frogs (Score:1)
Re:fish & frogs (Score:1)
DNA comparison (Score:2)
Did they have a visitor (Score:4, Funny)
*KNOCK KNOCK* "Who is it?" (Score:1)
*CHOMP!*