Shark Anatomy At least 550 species of shark have evolved from the

original sharks 400 million years ago. They differ broadly

Heads

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The size and shape of a shark’s head help to identify where and how the animal travels.
in form and function, which enables them to thrive in The large broad Whale Shark head indicates a slower moving animal, the sharper snout
of the Silky Shark suggests a more hydrodynamic animal evolved for greater speed.
multiple habitats and seas ranging from cold Greenland
water and deep waters to warm tropical seas.

Tails Gills

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Shortfin Mako Tail shape and size helps to identify if the shark is fast and swimming in mid-water (stiff heterocercal), First dorsal fin Sharks take in oxygen from the water or “respire” by flowing water across their gills. Sharks like Zebra or
Isurus oxyrinchus slow (flexible with a large upper lobe), or bottom dwelling (almost no lower lobe). Nurse Sharks can be stationary and “buccal ventilate”, pumping water over their gills and even using a
spiracle located behind the eye to increase water flow. Others like the white, hammerhead or silky sharks
Caribbean Reef Shark need to swim constantly to respire.
Carcharhinus perezi
Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus

Oxygen rich Silky Shark Caribbean Reef Shark

Nurse Shark Carcharhinus falciformis Carcharhinus perezi
Ginglymostoma cirratum water in

Dusky Smoothhound
Mustelus canis Spiracle –
Gill arches supports
respiration
llustrated by: Marc Dando www.marcdando.com
Produced by Rachel Graham, MarAlliance

lia
Radials Gills Gills

Low oxygen
Vertebral column – Liver – large for and high
ossified cartilage increased buoyancy carbon dioxide
Caudal fin – upper lobe Bull Shark Tiger Shark
water out
Second dorsal fin Carcharhinus leucas Galeocerdo cuvier
Ceratotrachia/fin rays
First dorsal fin
Lateral line – sense

Reproduction
changes in water pressure
Snout

Three modes of reproduction have evolved in sharks. Adults reproduce

using internal fertilization: males fertilize eggs in the female (like
mammals) and produce young sharks called “pups”. Gestation can

Al
take 4.5 to 36 months. The largest bearer is the Whale Shark (up to
300 embryos) whereas Sandtiger Sharks bear only two pups. Pups
have to be ready to survive as soon as they are born: there is no Silky Shark, Sedoso
parental care in the shark world. Carcharhinus falciformis
Caudal fin – Anal fin IUCN Red Data Listing: Least concern
lower lobe CITES: Appendix II CMS: Appendix II

Muscle – red and

Pelvic fin white muscle fibers
Adult Great Hammerhead, Cornuda gigante Pharynx
Sphyrna mokarran
IUCN Red Data Listing: Endangered
Skull Whale Shark
CITES: Appendix II CMS: Appendix II
Egg laying Hatching Stomach Rhincodon typus
Cephalofoil

Teeth
Intestine
1. Oldest mode or “oviparity”: fertilized eggs turn into embryos inside – provides lift
as the animal
egg cases in one of the two female’s uteri. The egg cases known as
“mermaid’s purses” are laid or wrapped around substrate and hatch
a young shark several months later after the yolk sac is consumed. Ex:
catsharks, Zebra Shark.

Adult
Embryos developing
in the uterus
ar
Made of enamel and replaceable when used or broken, shark teeth reveal the feeding
behaviour and dietary preferences of their owners. Some are pointed to grab fish,
others serrated to tear at larger prey, and others have bony plates to crush hard prey.

Gill arches

Heart Teeth - replaceable

swims

Bonnethead
Sphyrna tiburo

Dusky Smoothound Mustelus canis

2. “Aplacental viviparity”: Several different modes, but unified by
a lack of placental attachment to the mother and live birth. Yolk sac
Spotted Eagle Ray Pectoral fin –
viviparity: embryos develop in utero and are primarily nourished via a Snout
provides lift as
large external yolk sac, which is absorbed as the pups approach birth. Aetobatus narinari Eye
the animal swims
M
Eg angel sharks, nurse sharks, Spiny Dogfish. Oophagy: fertilized Nare – intake of

Ampullae
water to smell Smooth Hammerhead

Eyes
ova develop into embryos in utero and the female ovulates multiple
unfertilized ova (eggs), which the embryos consume throughout Sphyrna zygaena
gestation as their primary source of nutrients (all lamniform sharks,
some deepwater sharks such as false catsharks). In some extreme
cases the largest embryos consume other embryos (sandtiger sharks).
Named by the biologist Lorenzini, these super
A small number of large pups are born live. Most sharks have excellent vision and see in color. They
sensory organs are gel-filled sacs located around the
head and snout that detect electrical impulses and have a high number of “rods” and an extra membrane at
help sharks find nearby or hidden prey. the back of the eye “tapetum lucidum” (like a cat) that
allows them to see in very low light conditions. Species
such as Caribbean Reef and Galapagos Sharks have
Tiger Shark Galeocerdo cuvier Skin – covered in dermal denticles “mini teeth”
Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus eyelids known as “nictitating membranes”. Others like the
Adult whale shark are able to protect their eyes by rolling them Scalloped Hammerhead
backwards in their heads. Sphyrna lewini
Birth Shortfin Mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
Placental nictitating
embryos membrane

3. Most recently evolved mode or “placental viviparity”: embryos

develop a placental connection while they develop inside the
uterus and are fed with a milk-like nutrient rich substance termed
“histotroph”. At term, the pups are born live. Ex: hammerheads, Bull
and Lemon Sharks Great Hammerhead Sphyrna mokarran Bigeye Sixgill Shark Hexanchus nakamurai
Great Hammerhead
MarAlliance explores, enables and inspires positive changes for threatened marine Kindly sponsored by Sphyrna mokarran
wildlife, their critical habitats and dependent communities. We implement our mission
through a multi-disciplinary approach that combines research, capacity building, outreach,
Nerve Ampullae of Lorenzini Swellshark Galapagos Shark
conservation, and policy support. Our work is based in several tropical countries where Cephalurus ventriosum Carcharhinus galapagensis
we engage with fishers, guides, partners in the private and public sectors, academia and
NGOs to help manage and bolster populations of threatened sharks and rays. www.maralliance.org