Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Where do pregnant sharks give birth to their young?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
chondrichthyan
Southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana or Hypanus americanus) are found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
In the class Chondrichthyes, reproductive strategies vary significantly, and the location of birth depends on the species' reproductive method.12
- Oviparous species: These sharks lay large, yolk-rich eggs encased in protective horny shells. These eggs are often anchored to solid objects or the seafloor using tendrils or spikelike projections, where they develop and hatch externally.3
- Live-bearing species: Many sharks are either ovoviviparous (hatching eggs internally) or viviparous (giving birth to live young via a placental connection). In these cases, the young develop within the mother's uterus and are born alive.314
While specific nursery areas are often difficult to document and remain unknown for many species, some sharks are assumed to give birth in specific environments, such as warm temperate or subtropical waters, which may provide better conditions for the survival of their offspring.5