The denticle surface of thresher shark tails: Three-dimensional structure and comparison to other pelagic species

Journal of Morphology
Meagan PoppGeorge V Lauder

Abstract

Shark skin denticles (scales) are diverse in morphology both among species and across the body of single individuals, although the function of this diversity is poorly understood. The extremely elongate and highly flexible tail of thresher sharks provides an opportunity to characterize gradients in denticle surface characteristics along the length of the tail and assess correlations between denticle morphology and tail kinematics. We measured denticle morphology on the caudal fin of three mature and two embryo common thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus), and we compared thresher tail denticles to those of eleven other shark species. Using surface profilometry, we quantified 3D-denticle patterning and texture along the tail of threshers (27 regions in adults, and 16 regions in embryos). We report that tails of thresher embryos have a membrane that covers the denticles and reduces surface roughness. In mature thresher tails, surfaces have an average roughness of 5.6 μm which is smoother than some other pelagic shark species, but similar in roughness to blacktip, porbeagle, and bonnethead shark tails. There is no gradient down the tail in roughness for the middle or trailing edge regions and hence no correlation with kinematic ampli...Continue Reading

References

Sep 4, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·E J Southall, D W Sims
Aug 20, 2004·Nature·C D Wilga, G V Lauder
Oct 8, 2008·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·A W LangM Westcott
Feb 11, 2012·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Johannes Oeffner, George V Lauder
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May 16, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Li WenGeorge V Lauder
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Jul 19, 2018·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·August G DomelGeorge V Lauder
Jul 18, 2019·Biology Letters·Dylan K WainwrightGeorge V Lauder

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