What will you look for to identify the sex of the following?a)Male sha...
What will you look for to identify the sex of the following?a)Male sha...
Identifying the Sex of a Shark
The correct answer to identify the sex of a male shark is option 'A', which states that claspers are borne on the pelvic fins. Let's explore this in detail:
1. Shark Anatomy:
- Sharks have an internal reproductive system.
- Males have paired reproductive organs called claspers, while females have an oviduct system.
2. Claspers:
- Claspers are specialized elongated structures found in male sharks.
- They are located on the inner edges of the pelvic fins, which are the paired fins located on the ventral side of the shark.
- Claspers have a groove along their inner edge that functions in sperm delivery during copulation.
3. Function of Claspers:
- Male sharks use their claspers to transfer sperm into the female's reproductive tract during mating.
- The claspers are inserted into the female's cloaca, a common opening for excretion and reproduction.
4. Identification of Male Sharks:
- By examining the pelvic fins of a shark, one can identify the presence of claspers.
- If the shark has claspers, it is a male.
- If the shark lacks these structures, it is likely a female.
5. Other Methods:
- In addition to claspers, there are other methods to determine the sex of a shark, such as dissection or examination of internal reproductive organs.
- However, these methods are invasive and require specialized knowledge.
In conclusion, to identify the sex of a shark, one can look for the presence of claspers borne on the pelvic fins. These elongated structures are found in male sharks and are used for sperm transfer during mating. If claspers are present, the shark is male; if not, it is likely female.
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