Shedd’s baby is a boy, and he is growing - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

It took two weeks to be certain, but the newest addition to the Shedd Aquarium family is a boy.

Aquarium staff announced Tuesday that a two-week-old Pacific white-sided dolphin calf, born on Memorial Day, is a male.

And he's a healthy one, continuing to reach important milestones in growth and development, including gaining weight, learning to eat faster, and even showing a little independence.

Animal care and health team members confirmed the calf's gender through visual observation because so far, no hands-on care has not been necessary because baby and mother Piquet seem to be doing exceptionally well, a statement from Shedd said.

"While our staff has not confirmed his gender through a physical exam, our extensive experience and knowledge of the species helped us to identify the young calf as a male," Shedd veterinarian Caryn Poll, said in the statement.

She said male and female dolphin genitalia are all internal, with one subtle difference — males have two urogenital and gastrointestinal tract openings, and a female has only one. So gender was confirmed by watching the unnamed infant as it turned on its side to nurse.

For most of his young life, the calf has constantly been at its mother's side, but in recent days, as he grew bigger and Piquet grew more comfortable, they have spent a few moments apart through the day, which animal experts consider a growth marker, the statement said.