Examine the pelvic fins to determine its sex. A male has a long, rigid structure called a clasper on the inside edge of each pelvic fin. The clasper is inserted into the female’s cloaca to transfer sperm during reproduction. Locate the cloaca between the pelvic fins.
What external organ can be used to help identify a male dogfish shark?
Males have stout, grooved copulatory organs called claspers on the inner side of their pelvic fins.
What structure is unique to dogfish?
A feature peculiar to our specimen, the spiny dogfish, is the presence of two spines, one immediately anterior to each dorsal fin. When captured, these sharks will arch their backs and attempt to pierce their captor with these long sharp spines.
Where are the testes located in a male dogfish shark?
Paired testes lie near the anterior end of the body cavity, dorsal to the liver, adjacent to the anterior ends of the kidneys. The sperm pass from the testes to the kidneys within narrow tubules called efferent ductules.
How can you tell the gender of a shark?
Male sharks tend to be smaller than females. But the easiest way to tell them apart is to look for claspers. Males have a pair of claspers, which are used for mating. This is like a pair of extra roll-up fins under their body.
What is the function of the lateral line on a dogfish shark?
The lateral line allows the shark to orient to particle movement or sound. It consists of structures called neuromasts which are located in canals that lie just below the surface of the skin or the scales.
What are the characteristics of dogfish?
The spiny dogfish has a slender, elongate body and a moderately flattened head. The snout is narrow, tapering to a pointed tip. The eyes of this dogfish are moderately large. The first dorsal fin is located about halfway between the pectoral and pelvic fin origins and behind the rear tips of the pectoral fins.
Can dogfish hurt you?
These “dogs” may not bite, but they sure can sting. On the leading edge of their dorsal spine is a big, white, needle-sharp spine, a formidable weapon capable of inflicting agonizing pain.
Why dogfish is called dogfish?
The name “dogfish” stems from their habit of feeding in packs — sometimes numbering in the hundreds or thousands. Gathered together, they sweep an area, eating the fishes in front of them. They’ll eat almost anything they can get their strong jaws and teeth on.
Do female sharks have claspers?
Male sharks have modified pelvic fins called claspers. Females do not have these claspers.
Do dogfish have diaphragms?
The pharynx extends from the oral cavity to the larynx and allows passage of food and air. The food, when swallowed, travels down the tubular esophagus, which lies dorsal to the larynx. The soft, distensible esophagus penetrates the diaphragm separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
How many ovaries should the female dogfish have?
In the female, locate the two large ovaries, which look like small lobes of the liver. They may be swollen with eggs covered in yolk. The eggs are shed into the body cavity and then into the opening (ostia) of the two oviducts, called Muellerian ducts. They are silvery tubes on top of the kidneys.
What is the function of external nares in sharks?
A. External Nares: Near the tip of the shark’s nose, or its rostrum, these are two openings, one on each side, used for sensory activities. Water is taken up through the smaller opening, passes by a sensory membrane and then released through the larger opening.
Where are the testes located?
scrotum
The testes are 2 small organs that are found inside the scrotum. The testes make sperm. They also help produce a hormone called testosterone.
Do sharks pee?
Sharks urinate continuously
Their urine is actually absorbed by their flesh, where the urea is used to keep their scale-like dermal denticles nice and moist. The rest is simply expelled back into the water through their ‘skin’.
Do sharks fart?
Via Southern Fried Science: According to Daniella Rabaiotti, a postdoctoral researcher at the Zoological Society of London, sand tiger sharks are the only shark known to fart.
Do sharks have balls?
Testes. Most male fish have two testes of similar size. In the case of sharks, the testes on the right side is usually larger. The primitive jawless fish have only a single testis, located in the midline of the body, although even this forms from the fusion of paired structures in the embryo.
What does it mean to shark a girl?
verb – transitive
to pull a person’s dress down, revealing their breasts. She just got sharked by some dude. See more words with the same meaning: naked, unclothed, to disrobe.
What does the lateral line detect?
The lateral line is a sensory system that allows fishes to detect weak water motions and pressure gradients.
How do the ampullae of Lorenzini and lateral line work?
The ampullae of Lorenzini (Figures 3.15 and 3.37) are modified parts of the lateral line system (see later) and primarily sensitive to electrical fields (they can help a shark sense prey by detecting the electrical fields generated by activities of the prey).
Where is the lateral line on a shark?
The lateral line of a shark is used to sense tiny vibrations in the water. It is situated just under the skin (subcutaneous) on the snout and along either side of the shark’s body. Lateral lines can also locate odour plumes.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.