Parthenogenesis in a Large-Bodied Requiem Shark, the Blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus

Authors

• Demian D. Chapman, University of Miami
• B. Firchau, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
• Mahmood S. Shivji, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

ResearcherID

G-4080-2013

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Fish Biology

ISSN

0022-1112

Publication Date

10-8-2008

Keywords

Automixis, Carcharhinidae, Diversity, Evolution, Genetic management

Abstract

Genetic evidence is provided for parthenogenesis in a large-bodied shark, the blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus, from the speciose and commercially important family Carcharhinidae, the first verified case of asexual development in this lineage and only the second for any chondrichthyan. The parthenogenetic embryo exhibited elevated homozygosity relative to its mother, indicating that automictic parthenogenesis is the most likely mechanism. Although this finding shows that parthenogenesis is more common and widespread in sharks than previously realized and supports the early existence of parthenogenetic abilities in vertebrates, the adaptive significance of automixis in these ancient fishes remains unclear.

DOI

10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02018.x

Volume

73

Issue

6

First Page

1473

Last Page

1477

Comments

©2008 The Authors

NSUWorks Citation

Chapman, Demian D.; B. Firchau; and Mahmood S. Shivji. 2008. "Parthenogenesis in a Large-Bodied Requiem Shark, the Blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus." Journal of Fish Biology 73, (6): 1473-1477. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02018.x.