Has Charlotte the stingray given birth? Aquarium says not yet, and they're not sure when

A stingray at an aquarium in North Carolina is continuing to progress with her unusual pregnancy that has captured the attention of curious observers around the world.

According to the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Charlotte the stingray is continuing with parthenogenesis, or a form of asexual reproduction where she was able to fertilize an egg without a sperm.

"Charlotte is continuing on her journey with Parthenogenesis," the aquarium said in an update posted to social media Wednesday. "She continues to be healthy and has a great appetite! She also initiates interactions with the divers and guests as seen in this video with diver Jacob! We thank you for your kindness and support as we continue on this journey of scientific learning."

Who is Charlotte the stingray?

Charlotte the stingray gained fame this year through her unexpected pregnancy, which came as a surprise because the aquarium where she lives has no male stingrays. Workers had placed sharks in the same tank, stirring debate and conspiracies that maybe she had become pregnant by one of them.

But that is not the case, and the aquarium is now suggesting parthenogenesis as the reason for her pregnancy, or a form of asexual reproduction.

"First, you should know that parthenogenesis is asexual reproduction of an organism in which a female produces an embryo without a male present to fertilize the egg," wrote Dr. April Smith, executive director the North Carolina Science Trail in a blog post. "This means the offspring are, typically, all female, and this occurs in a situation where there are no males present (i.e., zoo/aquarium usually, or perhaps a secluded natural environment like the deep sea). It’s a survival mechanism that allows for the preservation of a species."

When will Charlotte the stingray give birth?

Charlotte is still pregnant and has not yet given birth to her pups, and the aquarium said it is continuing to perform ultrasounds and monitor her condition.

Stingrays have the ability to have parthenogenic pregnancies, although the aquarium previously said her case is a unique situation and there is no set precedent on how long a parthenogenetic pregnancy will last in this species.

The aquarium previously confirmed that once Charlotte gives birth, her offspring will be separated into a nursery tank which will be set to the same environmental parameters as her current home. The offspring will be separated to allow for observation by aquarium staff.

Contributing: Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY