SARASOTA FINS © 2015 www.sarasotafins.weebly.com SHARK ANATOMY This will cover: Eyes Teeth Gills Fins Skin Ampullae of Lorenzini SARASOTA FINS © 2015 www.sarasotafins.weebly.com

Many sharks rely heavily on their eye sight (think of a great white shark chasing seal) while others rely on other senses. This depends on the lifestyle of the shark. Some sharks can see colors- others cannot. Almost all sharks can see very well in low light. Eyes

Sharks have to protect their eyes while eating: they either roll their eyes to the back or cover their eye with a special eyelid, called a “nictitating membrane.” Eyes

Shark teeth are specialized by shark species Shark teeth are specialized by shark species! Different diets lead to different teeth designs. Here we have two examples: the top belongs to the sandy dogfish. The bottom belongs to sand tiger sharks. Teeth

These are just a few different teeth designs (many are similar due to similar prey).

Did you know: Most sharks have 5 gill slits Did you know: Most sharks have 5 gill slits. Some, though, have six or seven! The gills of the shark are circled here. Water must continuously flow over the gill in order for a shark to breathe. As water passes over the gills, tiny blood vessels extract oxygen from the water. Carbon dioxide waste also passes through the shark’s blood and out the gills. Gills

Fins Sharks have a lot of fins! These fins have different purposes. Not all sharks have the same fins (i.e. some may have fins that other species lack).

The pectoral fins help the shark not sink (they’re pretty negatively buoyant aka heavy)! They also help with steering the shark. Pectoral Fins

Pelvic fins help keep the shark stabilized during swimming!

The dorsal fins (some sharks have two– and they may be different sizes or the same sizes) help keep the shark stabilized during swimming. Dorsal Fins

Anal & Caudal Fin Anal Fin Caudal fin The anal fin is between the pelvic and caudal fins. Not all sharks have anal fins! They’re mostly used for extra stability while swimming. This fin is what propels the shark forward—and its shape changes depending on the shark’s life style! 

Different caudal fins

Shark skin is covered by tiny V-shaped scales, called dermal denticles (meaning “tiny teeth”). They even have the same components as teeth: dentine, enamel, a pulpy center. Their shape tends to differ among species– and the amount of dermal denticles covering a specific body part depends on said body part (many have more on the top part, near their first dorsal fin, for example). They help with drag while swimming too, making the shark more hydrodynamic. Skin

This is a picture of a shark’s snout! What are those weird dots? They’re called the Ampullae of Lorenzini. They are pores filled with jelly that can detect electrical fields and temperature. Some sharks have as many as 1500 around their snout, while others may just have a few hundred. Ampullae of Lorenzini