Welcome to my blog where I share all aspects of marine biology; news, interesting facts, as well as my life as a marine biology student and all the sweat and saltwater that has led me here!

Monday 30 March 2020

Shark Senses

Here is the link to a comprehensive video on a shark sensory dissection. *GRAPHIC*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAy49LS3jwg

Sharks have a variety of sensory abilities:
•  Vision (eye)
•  Smell (noise)
•  Taste (taste buds)
•  Electroreception (pores)

Electroreception

Electrosensory pores - ampullae of Lorenzini
Located sub dermally
Hundreds of individual pores converge in discrete clusters   Up to 5 clusters in shark  heads, typically fewer in  batoid rays
Pores contain an ion-rich  glycoprotein gel (similar   electrical conductivity to   seawater)

The electrical properties of seawater are comparatively consistent in a marine environment across
a biologically relevant range
However, feeding mode still likely to affect distribution of pores across the head

Bottom feeding – more ventral receptors?

Open-water – receptors more evenly spread around the head?

Here is a visual diagram I made to illustrate shark senses changing with environmental depth.


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