However, shark skeletons are not uniform in cartilage density and type. Shark skeletons are made up of cartilage, other connective tissues, and some muscle. Not having bones does not stop sharks from having a skeleton. If sharks did have bones, they wouldn’t be able to catch their prey as efficiently as they do now, and thus, they probably wouldn’t be at the top of the food chain. They are also less rigid, allowing room for flexibility.įor these reasons, sharks are able to make agile turns and quickly swing their prey from side to side, all without immediately depleting their energy sources. Having cartilage instead of bones helps sharks maintain this esteemed status.Ĭartilages are less dense than bones, making them much lighter. Sharks are known predators, placing them at the top of the food chain. It’s not so much about why sharks have cartilages instead of bones, but it’s more about how cartilages are of greater benefit to sharks than bones will ever be. This explains how sharks can survive without bones, but it doesn’t explain why. They don’t rely on bones for cell production and differentiation. Sharks have managed to survive without bones for many centuries now because their blood is produced in their spleen, epigonal organ surrounding their gonads, and in their Leydig’s organ-which is only present in Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish). How do sharks survive without bones, then? So how do sharks still have red blood cells even if they don’t have bones? Without blood, there’s no doubt that sharks would die. And as earlier stated, cartilages don’t contain blood vessels, and therefore, no blood. However, we also know that red blood cells come from bones, specifically in bone marrows.
It’s obvious that sharks have red blood cells, right? From shark movies and documentaries, you’ll know that this is true. To answer this, we need to talk about something that has been closely associated with sharks-blood. Thus, how do sharks survive without the more “advanced” body structure? If they were, then they wouldn’t be feared by most creatures both underwater and on land. So does this mean that sharks are premature creatures? Their cartilages haven’t fully matured or ossified into bones yet, making them wobble a lot. This is the reason why babies seem to have rubbery legs when they are just starting to walk. It’s also important to note that there are no blood vessels present in cartilages, and so naturally, no blood as well. It’s the thing that gives the framework or structure for bones to harden (ossify). Cartilage, therefore, is a precursor of bones. Cartilages are also found in human noses and ears.Ĭartilage is a connective tissue that forms before developing into bones in most vertebrates. Cartilages are more flexible and less dense than bones, allowing sharks to bend their bodies at sharp angles with ease and with less energy. In fact, sharks do not have any bones at all.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shark Bones.
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