14 DAY TRIAL // Staff at the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky, US are happy to announce that, on January 24, a female shark ray living in captivity at this facility delivered a total of seven pups.
According to Zoo Borns, the female shark ray, whose name is Sweet Pea, was in labor for about five hours. Of the seven pups that it gave birth two, just six, i.e. three males and three females survived.
The same source tells us that, shortly after being born, the baby shark rays were separated from their mom. Thus, they now get to swim around in a tank that sits right next to their mom's pool.
Vets have had the chance to examine the pups and say that their weight ranges from 2.1 to 2.4 pounds (0.95 to 1.09 kg).
As far as their length is concerned, it would appear that the smallest measures about 1 foot, 6.4 inches (47 centimeters) from head to tail. The biggest is about 1 foot, 7.3 inches (49 centimeters) long.
Interestingly enough, it would appear that Sweet Pea is the first shark ray thus far documented to successfully breed in captivity.