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Via Sarah for National Sea Life Centre
Baby epaulette shark hatches at
Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre
A baby epaulette shark has hatched at the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham. The species is noted for its unique appearance including using its dorsal fins to ‘walk’ along the sea bed, which encompasses most of its movement.
The egg was discovered on May the 4th and hence nicknamed Baby Yoda, the baby is the latest in a stream of recent shark breeding successes for Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre.

At just over 20cm long, the baby is currently in a special nursery tank with dedicated care from the aquarium’s animal care experts. Once grown the species can reach up to 1m long.
The fertilised egg was found during lockdown on 4th May, and after months of patient waiting the baby has been a welcome source of joy for the team since its recent hatching.
Curator, Jonny Rudd explains:
We named him Yoda after Star Wars day, which quickly became Baby Yoda given his newborn status – and very small size!
Sharks have to be extremely happy in their environment to successfully breed so we are really proud to have another baby shark in our midst.”
It’s not the first shark breeding success for the aquarium this year, with six rare endangered Blackchin Guitarfish recently being born to UK’s only successful breeding couple for the species, residing in the attraction’s Shark Lagoon.
Visitors will soon be able to meet Baby Yoda and the baby guitarfish for themselves in the Behind the Scenes area at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, where new tours will soon be returning for visiting guests.
Further information and tickets to visit the aquarium are available online: visitsealife.com/birmingham.