Shark Morphology

by Jocelyn Spencer

 

The external morphology of a shark includes 3 main parts: body shape, tail, and fins.

You can tell a lot about a fish just by observing its body shape. The shark in the picture above has a fusiform body shape, meaning it is shaped more or less like a torpedo. Most sharks are crangiform swimmers meaning that they move quickly through the water. The fusiform body shape of a shark is helpful because when swimming, no eddies are created.

Sharks have four types of fins. They have 2 dorsal fins (an anterior and posterior), 2 pectoral fins, 2 anal fins, and a heterocercal caudal fin. The two dorsal fins are used for balance. The pectoral fins are used to lift the shark as it swims through the water. The anal fin is also used for stability. The caudal fin, which is probably the most important, moves back and forth propeling the shark through the water.

 

 

 

 

References:

www.infovisual.info/02/035_en.html

www.sciencebugz.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated: 4/14/08