Skip to main content

How does this all-female species reproduce? - Susana Freitas and Darren Parker

433,617 Views

1,375 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In 2021, workers at a Sardinian aquarium were stunned by the birth of a smooth-hound shark. What was shocking was that, for the last decade, the shark’s mother had been living only with other females. So, how was this birth possible? And can other species reproduce this way? Susana Freitas and Darren Parker explore the phenomenon of asexual reproduction known as parthenogenesis.

Approximately how many species of sexual vertebrate have been shown to be capable of reproducing parthenogenetically?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Susana Freitas, Darren Parker
  • Director Petya Zlateva, Compote Collective
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Petya Zlateva
  • Animator Petya Zlateva, Nataliya Atanasova
  • Art Director Petya Zlateva
  • Composer BigBanda SoundScapers
  • Sound Designer BigBanda SoundScapers
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Anna Bechtol
  • Associate Producer Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Cella Wright
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler

More from Awesome Nature