Leopard shark's 'virgin' births stun personnel at Australian Aquarium

A leopard shark named Leonie recently welcomed three lovely pups, all of which were the result of 'virgin births,' reports Metro.

According to personnel at the Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in Queensland, Australia, Leonie hasn't been in the company of a male shark for years, notes the Daily Mail.

Nonetheless, she started laying eggs in 2013.

This year, three of the 41 eggs laid actually hatched and the little ones survived, reports ninemsn.

Leonie isn't the first leopard shark known to succeed at solo reproduction, formally known as parthenogenesis, but the happening is incredibly rare.

The offspring produced have only the genetic information passed on by the mother.

According to the Daily Mail, why virgin births occur is not fully understood, but it may be a means of preserving the family line.

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