Seven little stingrays of sunshine have been born at the Sea of Life Aquarium, to mothers that not been in contact with males for two years.

One of the healthy baby stingrays born at the Sea Life London Aquarium (Picture: PA)

The baby stingrays arrived after two females were seen looking mysteriously bloated and later found to be pregnant.

The 15cm (6in) babies have now grown big enough to be moved to their new home in Sea Life London Aquariumâs SOS area â where they are proving a hit with visitors.

âRays have been known to store sperm and not give birth until they decide the timing is right but itâs not something Iâve seen before in my eight years here,â said Paul Hale, head curator at the central London attraction.




âThe staff noticed two female stingrays looking bloated so gave them a health check and were surprised to discover they were both expecting, considering there have been no males in their display for so long. These pups will be very popular with our visitors this summer.â

Stingrays are named after their venomous, barbed tails, which are used in self-defence.

Australian naturalist Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray barb in 2006.