Charlotte the ray has never shared a pool with a male of her species. She began developing an unusual growth in late November.
It is not uncommon for such cysts to develop in the reproductive organs of non-mating rays. Such “virgin births” are rare and the gestation period can vary and is not necessarily three to four months as usual. The ability to reproduce without the genetic contribution of a male has long been considered extremely rare in mammals, including birds and reptiles.