Maverick Wagner Evolution
2/20/15
Evolution of the Great White Shark Did you know that sharks appeared in the fossil record about 450 million years ago? The great white shark is one of many different species of cartilaginous fish out. There are approximately 350 species of sharks worldwide. The great white has become one of the most feared predators in the sea leaving the question as to how it achieved this success. The great white is about four to six meters in length and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Some factors that have played a big role in the great white’s success as a predator are its keen sense of smell and its sharp teeth. One interesting fact about its keen sense of smell is that great whites can detect one drop of …show more content…
Shark teeth are one of the most commonly collected vertebrate fossils. Since sharks have been around so long, it is not surprising that their teeth have produced many fossils. Sharks have the ability to shed and grow back teeth because unlike other vertebrates, their teeth are not fused to their jaws. When sharks die there is nothing to hold the teeth in place, which is why the teeth are scattered and can be hard to find. It can be difficult to identify body length, placement of the fins, and the relationship of the fins and other body structures with just the fossilized teeth of a shark. Great white shark teeth do not vary much between sexes and they can be hard to assign a geological …show more content…
Much of those adaptations are determined by the kind of prey it stalks. Great white sharks, or like all sharks for that matter, have larger livers and cartilage lighter than bone. The liver contains squalene which keeps the shark from floating instead of sinking to the floor. Squalene is an oily liquid hydrocarbon that is found in shark liver oil. Their pectoral fins assist them in movement and keep them from rolling and sinking. The fins help them quickly change direction as well as with diving and swimming upward. Most of their adaptations are to help them swim in the most efficient way possible. They need to be able to swim efficiency and with agility in order to catch their prey. The bodies of the shark taper at the snout and tail to reduce water resistance. Great white sharks also have good vision. The retina in its eye is divided into two areas; one area is adapted for day vision and the other area is adapted for night vision. They also have the ability to roll their eyes backwards to protect themselves from intense fights with their prey or when they feel threatened. Just like any other fish, sharks have gills, which are used for breathing. Blood in their gill filaments absorb the oxygen from the water pumped into their gills, which is then carried to the muscles and organs of its body. Great white sharks also have special gill slits behind their eyes known as spiracles. These spiracles supply
2/20/15
Evolution of the Great White Shark Did you know that sharks appeared in the fossil record about 450 million years ago? The great white shark is one of many different species of cartilaginous fish out. There are approximately 350 species of sharks worldwide. The great white has become one of the most feared predators in the sea leaving the question as to how it achieved this success. The great white is about four to six meters in length and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Some factors that have played a big role in the great white’s success as a predator are its keen sense of smell and its sharp teeth. One interesting fact about its keen sense of smell is that great whites can detect one drop of …show more content…
Shark teeth are one of the most commonly collected vertebrate fossils. Since sharks have been around so long, it is not surprising that their teeth have produced many fossils. Sharks have the ability to shed and grow back teeth because unlike other vertebrates, their teeth are not fused to their jaws. When sharks die there is nothing to hold the teeth in place, which is why the teeth are scattered and can be hard to find. It can be difficult to identify body length, placement of the fins, and the relationship of the fins and other body structures with just the fossilized teeth of a shark. Great white shark teeth do not vary much between sexes and they can be hard to assign a geological …show more content…
Much of those adaptations are determined by the kind of prey it stalks. Great white sharks, or like all sharks for that matter, have larger livers and cartilage lighter than bone. The liver contains squalene which keeps the shark from floating instead of sinking to the floor. Squalene is an oily liquid hydrocarbon that is found in shark liver oil. Their pectoral fins assist them in movement and keep them from rolling and sinking. The fins help them quickly change direction as well as with diving and swimming upward. Most of their adaptations are to help them swim in the most efficient way possible. They need to be able to swim efficiency and with agility in order to catch their prey. The bodies of the shark taper at the snout and tail to reduce water resistance. Great white sharks also have good vision. The retina in its eye is divided into two areas; one area is adapted for day vision and the other area is adapted for night vision. They also have the ability to roll their eyes backwards to protect themselves from intense fights with their prey or when they feel threatened. Just like any other fish, sharks have gills, which are used for breathing. Blood in their gill filaments absorb the oxygen from the water pumped into their gills, which is then carried to the muscles and organs of its body. Great white sharks also have special gill slits behind their eyes known as spiracles. These spiracles supply