SHARKS
Classification
 Class ______________________________________________ includes sharks,
rays and their close relatives.
 Sharks and rays share a basic anatomy that classifies them
together.
 Sharks and rays are jawed fish,that lack a
______________________________, and have cartilaginous skeletons.
 Cartilage is lighter than bones and helps the shark to float.
TEETH
 Sharks have a “conveyor belt” of _________________________________ of
teeth.
 They swing into place as old teeth wear out and fall away.
Reproduction
 Sharks differ in their reproductive strategy.
 Sharks and rays produce fewer, but more mature offspring.
 Most fertilize their eggs _________________________________.
 The male deposits sperm in the female via a pair of copulatory
organs called ____________________________________ found at the base of
the pelvic fins.
 The female lays an egg case in which the juveniles develop for up
to six months at which time one or more sharks or rays emerge.
 A few shark species are ______________________________________ – the
eggs hatch within the mother’s body.
 They give birth to live young rather than egg cases.
Shark Egg Sacs
 Oviparous sharks
 Lay eggs. They are
 also known as
 A ______________________________________.
Countershading
 Dark shading on ____________________________ surface.
 Light shading on ____________________________ surface.
Dermal Denticles
 Scales are actually made of the same material as
_____________________________________. Called dermal denticles.
 Tip: Pet a shark like you pet a cat, from head to tail.
Shark Senses
 ____________________________________________ – lines of sensory hair
along the length of the body that detect water motion and
vibrations.
 Shark Senses
 _________________________________________________ – the ability to sense
minute electricity created by muscles and nerves.
 Sharks and rays have organs called
__________________________________________________ which you can see as
visible pits near their snouts used to detect the electrical current.
 Sharks have a sense of smell that detect incredibly
diluted substances.
Internal Anatomy
 The _________________________________________ is the largest organ in a
sharks body. It is oily and aids in buoyancy since sharks lack a
swim bladder.
 We will continue to learn more about the internal and external
anatomy of a shark when we begin the spiny dogfish shark
dissection.
THE END