SharkSharkss

SharkSharkss

Shy Ocean Creatures?Shy Ocean Creatures?

Sharks are Cartilagenous FishSharks are Cartilagenous Fish What parts of the human body are made of cartilage? Ears Tips of nose Covering at the end of bones Front parts of the ribs Tendons and ligaments Growth plates in children and adolescents

What parts of the human body are made of cartilage? Ears Tips of nose Covering at the end of bones Front parts of the ribs Tendons and ligaments Growth plates in children and adolescents

Anatomy of a SharkAnatomy of a Shark

Sharks belong to a family called Chondrichthyes. The members all have cartilage

rather than bones.

Sharks belong to a family called Chondrichthyes. The members all have cartilage

rather than bones.

MembersMembers

Sharks, skates and the rays There are approximately 700 species.

Sharks, skates and the rays There are approximately 700 species.

Cartilage not BonesCartilage not Bones

Cartilage is lighter than bone and helps the shark to float.

Cartilage is lighter than bone and helps the shark to float.

Unique CharacteristicsUnique Characteristics

Placoid Scales – tiny teeth embedded in skin that point towards the back to the fish. Prevent fish from being eaten from the tail

Ventral gill slits with no covering Very vulnerable area

Spiracles are breathing holes on the dorsal side of the head behind the eyes

Mouth is ventral and used for bottom feeding Pectoral fins help give the fish lift like the wings of a plane.

Placoid Scales – tiny teeth embedded in skin that point towards the back to the fish. Prevent fish from being eaten from the tail

Ventral gill slits with no covering Very vulnerable area

Spiracles are breathing holes on the dorsal side of the head behind the eyes

Mouth is ventral and used for bottom feeding Pectoral fins help give the fish lift like the wings of a plane.

Stingrays and SkatesStingrays and Skates

Most are bottom dwellers in the sand of the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic Coast from the Carolinas to Brazil.

Their tail is used for stabbing prey and enemies.

Stingrays have a spine on their tail, skates do not.

Most are bottom dwellers in the sand of the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic Coast from the Carolinas to Brazil.

Their tail is used for stabbing prey and enemies.

Stingrays have a spine on their tail, skates do not.

Stingrays and SkatesStingrays and Skates

Sharks Comes in all Sizes – about 350 species

Sharks Comes in all Sizes – about 350 species

Whale SharkDwarf Dog Shark

6.5 in up to 59 ft.

Whale SharkDwarf Dog Shark

6.5 in up to 59 ft.

Mermaid Purses?Mermaid Purses?

Shark egg sacs Shark egg sacs

Lemon SharkLemon Shark

Great WhitesGreat Whites

Ocean Acrobats Ocean Acrobats

Tiger SharksTiger Sharks

Garbage Cans of the OceanThey eat anything they can and help keep

the ocean clean

Garbage Cans of the OceanThey eat anything they can and help keep

the ocean clean

The Real JawsThe Real Jaws

Meet the bull shark Meet the bull shark

Bull Sharks in Fresh Water?Bull Sharks in Fresh Water? Bull sharks can live in both the sea and fresh water. They have been found in the Amazon, Ganges, Mississippi and Australian rivers.

Bull sharks can live in both the sea and fresh water. They have been found in the Amazon, Ganges, Mississippi and Australian rivers.

Goblin SharksGoblin Sharks

Found only in deep waters, are extremely

rare, live on fish and octopus, grow to apprx. 10 ft.

Found only in deep waters, are extremely

rare, live on fish and octopus, grow to apprx. 10 ft.

Structure of SharksStructure of Sharks Sharks are living fossils because today’s form closely resembles fossilized forms.

Sharks are living fossils because today’s form closely resembles fossilized forms.

Shark’s AdaptationsShark’s Adaptations

Lateral line organ picks up sound vibrations in the water

Ampullae of Lorenzini pick up the electrical impulses of the nervous system

Streamlined body shape allows them to move quickly through the water

Caudal (tail) fin is used for forward thrust

Lateral line organ picks up sound vibrations in the water

Ampullae of Lorenzini pick up the electrical impulses of the nervous system

Streamlined body shape allows them to move quickly through the water

Caudal (tail) fin is used for forward thrust

More shark adaptationsMore shark adaptations

Teeth are serrated like a steak knife and are used to sever food into smaller pieces

Sharks must be in constant motion or in moving water because they will sink and need the oxygen to keep flowing over their body

Can detect the smell of blood from miles away

Teeth are serrated like a steak knife and are used to sever food into smaller pieces

Sharks must be in constant motion or in moving water because they will sink and need the oxygen to keep flowing over their body

Can detect the smell of blood from miles away

Shark AnatomyShark AnatomyLateral Line Organ

ReproductionReproduction

Fertilization is internal and the shark usually gives birth to live babies, but some sharks produce eggs in cases that they attach to seaweed

Males have claspers to transfer sperm to the female reproductive tract.

Fertilization is internal and the shark usually gives birth to live babies, but some sharks produce eggs in cases that they attach to seaweed

Males have claspers to transfer sperm to the female reproductive tract.

Human InfluenceHuman Influence

Each year over 30 to 100 million shark are killed by nets, for food or for sport.

Each year over 30 to 100 million shark are killed by nets, for food or for sport.

Shark Delicacy’sShark Delicacy’s

ResearchResearch

Researchers combine shark cartilage andcow collagen to make sheet to place over

a burn victim’s skin. The patient’s cells

invade, absorb and replace the sheet with new human skin.

Researchers combine shark cartilage andcow collagen to make sheet to place over

a burn victim’s skin. The patient’s cells

invade, absorb and replace the sheet with new human skin.

ProtectionProtection

Great whites are now protected along the

coast of California, Australia, South Africa

and the Maldives. Wildlife Conservation

Society has begun a tagging program.

Great whites are now protected along the

coast of California, Australia, South Africa

and the Maldives. Wildlife Conservation

Society has begun a tagging program.