Organization of Life
Phylogenetic relationship of animals
Classification of fishes
General Info - Sharks
 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Chondrichthyes
 Subclass: Elasmobranchii (sharks, rays, ratfishes)
 100 million years old (current species, ancient relatives
up to 400-450 million years old)
 400 living species
Shark Diversity
Shark Anatomy
Body type dependent upon habitat
Gray Reef Shark
Shark Jaws and Teeth
Shark Fins
Bursts of power
Constant speed
Shark “Skin”
 Dermal denticles
 a.k.a Placoid scales
Sensory organs
 Olfactory sacs on both sides of head – nares (nostrils)
 Can sense substances at 1 ppm
 Ampullae of Lorenzini – detect weak electrical
fields
 Lateral line – detect vibrations in the water
 Canals that run along the head and body lined with
sensory cells called neuromasts that sense vibration
 Can see pores on surface of body
 Inner ear
Ampullae of Lorinzini
Ampullae of Lorinzini
Lateral Line
Shark Reproduction
 Internal fertilization
 Males – claspers
 Females - cloaca
pc.maricopa.edu
Shark Reproduction
 Oviparous – embryo enclosed in large, leathery egg
case (mermaid’s purse); ~43% of cartilaginous fishes
Shark Reproduction
 Ovoviviparous – female retains eggs inside
reproductive tract for additional protection. Give birth
to live young.
 300 embroys/1 whale shark
 Sandtiger sharks consume yolk and then eat brothers
and sisters to survive.
 Viviparous – live young. Embryos absorb nutrients
from the walls of mother’s reproductive tract.

Shark behavior
 We’ll hear that from you!
apexpredators.com
Photos: wikipedia.com