Internet star stingray dies.

Internet-famous stingray Charlotte has died from a rare reproductive disease, according to a statement by Team ECCO Aquarium. Charlotte made headlines earlier this year when it was announced she was pregnant, despite being the only female stingray in her enclosure. The aquarium speculated that it may be a case of hybridization between a stingray and a shark, but scientists quickly debunked this theory. It was later announced that Charlotte likely became pregnant through parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction. In May, Team ECCO confirmed that Charlotte had a rare reproductive disease. The facility said that her health and wellbeing were a priority and that veterinarians and specialists were being called in to treat the disease.

We are sad to announce, after continuing treatment with her medical care team and the specialist, our ray, Charlotte, passed away today. Team ECCO Aquarium statement, as reported by USA TODAY

Charlotte's unexpected pregnancy brought attention to Team ECCO, a grassroots program founded and run by former public school teacher Brenda Ramer. The aquarium, which is not accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), hosts educational and internship programs and sees an average of 10,000 visitors annually. Team ECCO did not respond to requests for more information on Charlotte's case, and it is unclear who constitutes their marine life professionals or care team.

URLs:

• Team ECCO statement: https://www.facebook.com/teamecco/posts/pfbid02EbmdqwuDB1KhmeMFgSLaNLazWSsNDyxPXG1Z9Y8YKcg9uto7qVF4RCBi5fatxi67l
• Aquarium's website: https://www.teamecco.org/about.html
• The Association of Zoos and Aquariums: https://www.aza.org/