Artificial Insemination and Parthenogenesis in the Zebra Shark Stegostoma tigrinum

Maintaining self-sustaining populations of zoo and aquarium collections can be challenged when natural reproduction fails within mixed-sex populations; however, reproductive success sometimes restored with the application technologies. Among a population three female one male Zebra Sharks ( Stegostoma tigrinum ), production young failed despite constant presence two females. To determine if assisted techniques could used to rescue sexual reproduction, artificial insemination was performed in singleton twice over three-year period using freshly collected semen. Hatching for eggs laid by all females monitored compare modes. After first (December 15 th , 2011), 143 yolked resulted no sexually produced offspring four genetically-confirmed, parthenogenetic offspring. second (September 24 2013), 62 offspring, 18 33 days after insemination, > 213 post-insemination. For housed male, resulted. All at least hatched parthenote. This study successfully employed circumvent barriers Sharks. With further development, represents powerful tool that maintaining genetic diversity animals aquaria conservation-based breeding programs elasmobranchs.