Scientists from the University of New England have captured the never-before-seen footage of unborn sharks from the first-ever sonogram of a pregnant tiger shark. The successful sonogram is the first non-lethal method of viewing the uterus of a pregnant shark, and will allow scientists to further study the tiger shark and its reproductive patterns.
The shark, nicknamed Emily, is the four-meter long tiger shark that underwent the first shark sonogram. It is hoped that the sonogram can be used to study the reproductive cycles of other shark breeds as well. In an accompanying video, it is possible to see the shark pups' teeth and spins, as well as their outlines.
Emily is seen carrying 20 shark pups when in the revolutionary sonogram. This high number is not unusual among tiger sharks, with litters comprising 35 to 55 pups.
First-Ever Shark Sonograms
This Underwater Sonogram Captures a Pregnant Tiger Shark
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