Topic 3: Elasmobranch Anatomy 1 Flashcards
Three topics covered in this chapter?
- external anatomy
- skeletal anatomy
- tooth morphology
In terms of external anatomy what are some topics covered? (6)
- body design
- pitch, yaw and roll
- scales (not true scales)
- hydrodynamics
- sensory
- skin
Scales are modified what?
teeth derived from the skin
Body Design:
- Give a general description of the body shape
- Sleek, fusiform shape for most sharks, narrow caudal peduncle, streamlined tail with high aspect ratio ( fast swimming)
- large pectoral fins
- Large first dorsal fin
Body Design:
- Explain aspect ratio in terms of a fast swimming shark .
- length is long and narrow and very thin width for tail = high aspect ratio
Body Design:
- caudal peduncle ?
- a narrow one is seen in sharks that are fast swimmers!
Body Design:
- Pectoral fins originate ___ of the sharks centre of gravity and have _____ like cross section.
- forward
- hydrofoil-like ( flat on lower surface, convex on upper)
Body Design:
- Pectoral fins generate ___% of the sharks lift. They also carry heavy ___ and ___ stalling speed for___. They are also ____ for maneuvers.
- 25
- load
- low
- stalking prey
- flexible
- allows a shark to swim slowly without sinking
Body Design:
- what does the angle of the pectoral fin impact? (2)
- it impacts the sharks stalling speed and drag!
Body Design:
- Pectoral fins are used in ___ displays.
threat
l> down= annoyed…expect rapid burst of speed
L> straight out= mellow
Body Design:
- Pelvic fins can be ___ controlled.
finely
Body Design:
- Dorsal fins have a short what?
free rear trip (reduces turbulence from water…reducing drag)
L> provides stabilization from rolling and is dexterous
Body Design:
- Explain the leading and trailing edge of the dorsal fin!
- leading edge: straight edge
- trailing edge: curved in edge
Body Design:
- cartilage of a shark is reinforced with?
- calcium
Explain what yaw, pitch and roll are!
- Yaw: up and down
- Pitch: left to right via pectoral?
- Roll: side to side via nose
Body Design:
- Caudal fin can be deeply ____ and ___ aspect ratio. (maximum thrust with minimum drag)
- forked
- high
Body Design:
- lateral keel is present on some sharks and is located where?
- on tail…..for high speed sharks….reduces drag
Body Design:
- Second dorsal and anal fins are important because?
- they have pivoting base and long free rear tip and may help store laminar flow (resistance while moving through water) over posterior part of body.
Body Design:
- denticle bristling??
- when the scales are lifted from the body enhancing water flow…
Body Design:
- lamina boundary layer?
- straight…..not much resistance..boundary layer is fine.
- when the shark flexes it causes boundary layer separation which creates vortices from water flow…(via moving tale side to side)
- When denticle bristling occurs they hold the boundary layer in place enhancing water flow.
Body Design:
Shark scales are also called ____. What do they do?
- denticles
- reduce turbulence and enhance laminar flow.
L> reduces energy requirement as well. - smal grooves which enhance flow of water.
- keeps flow of water close to the body
Body Design:
Where are the most moveable scales located?
- mouth and the sides of the body.
Body Design:
- Explain the components of denticles.
- Enamel: outside portion of scale (spine)
- Dentine: inside of the spine
L> attaches to a basal plate - Melanophore: colour of scale
* pulp cavity
**dermis: melanophore and basal plate
Body Design:
Describe a short fin mako’s scales.
- they differ in size and flexibility all over the body.
L> shark controls the scales via skin
Body Design:
- Males of many species have clasper spurs which are?
- enlarged denticles that help anchor their intromittant organs inside the female’s vent during copulation
Many skates have bucklers, describe them. Also explain malar and alar which male skates have.
- they are enlarged thorn like denticles covering parts of the body..
- spines that are hook like structures which they use to hang onto the females during courtship and matting.
Aside from the previous benefits mentioned about sharks hydrodynamically sculpted denticles what is another benefit? Also compare them to scales seen on teleosts.
L> also describe it in terms of as a side effect benefit.
- stealth
- the large overlapping scales of teleosts are not nearly as hydrodynamically clean as the dermal denticles of sharks.
- If you were to place the same hydrophone near a cruising shark, no such swimming sounds would be heard. Sharks are literally silent hunters.
L> this hydrodynamic-side effect confers tremendous advantages for great whites when stalking prey since the helpless fish or sea lion almost never hears the shark that caught it.
Hydrodynamics:
- Water is __ or more ___ (resistant to flow) than air. As a result, water ??
- denser
- viscous
- does not move easily around a moving body
Hydrodynamics:
- Drag????
- an unavoidable consequence of living in the aquatic environment and may be defined as resistance to moving through a fluid.
Hydrodynamics:
- Boundary layer??
- layer of fluid that sticks to and is carried along with the surface of a moving body CREATING DRAG.
Hydrodynamics:
- Drag increases with what four things?
- speed
- fluid density
- object size
- shape
* *sharks bodies are usually designed in such a shape that reduces drag…streamline
Hydrodynamics:
- the key to understanding drag is the distinction between what two things?
- Turbulent
2. Laminar flow
Hydrodynamics:
- Turbulent?
- turbulence is a form of fluid flow in which the molecules of the fluid move over a surface in irregular paths resulting in the exchange of momentum from one portion of the fluid to another. (this equals= higher drag)
Hydrodynamics:
- Laminar flow??
- laminar means in layers.
- this is referring to fluid flow in which the molecules of a fluid move over a surface in discrete layers without fluctuations, so that successive particles passing the same point have the same velocity.
Hydrodynamics:
- Explain laminar flow in terms of energy.
- A smooth laminar flow is more efficient than and thus preferable to a turbulent flow.
- ** laminar: water moves faster in the centre vs sides.
- ** turbulent flow: water moves slow because it is on the sides.
Hydrodynamics:
- what is the simplest way to achieve minimum drag?
- through streamlining