ODISHA, INDIA — That's unusual.<br /><br />A researcher has discovered six hermaphrodite sharks pregnant off the coast in eastern India, reports Science News.<br /><br />Marine biologist Alissa Barnes noticed there were more male bigeye houndsharks than females, yet the males had a "visible stomach bulge."<br /><br />Barnes dissected the fish and found the 'male sharks' had external claspers — like most male houndsharks — but they also had ovaries like their female counterparts.<br /><br />In her published report, Barnes called this phenomenon "intersexuality."<br /><br />Six of the seven dissected sharks turned out to be pregnant, with Barnes finding at least two baby sharks in one.<br /><br />Another shark biologist told Science News that hermaphroditism — an organism containing both male and female reproductive systems — is rare in sharks.<br /><br />Barnes claims this abnormality may have been caused by "pollutants in the water" or "hormonal changes," reports Science News.
