Male and female of any species of living things would normally have clearly different anatomies. As regards sharks, what are some of these differences?
Distinguishing the sex of a shark is easier than in most marine species. It’s all in the shark’s external anatomy.
Male sharks have modified pelvic fins called claspers, while females do not. As male sharks age, the calcium is deposited in the claspers, so that older males have harder claspers.
Where Are Claspers Located?
These claspers are located on the shark’s underside, within the shark’s two pelvic fins – these refer to fins on the underside of a fish’s body. They look like long fingers that extend underneath the shark’s belly.
The claspers are used for reproduction. This involves the sharks usually positioning themselves belly to belly, a process that can involve a lot of biting. The claspers have grooves which are used to transfer sperm from the male shark to the female’s cloaca – an opening on the underside of the belly that serves reproductive, urinary and digestive purposes.
The sperm is moved through the grooves using sea water. The sperm fertilizes the female’s eggs, and a shark embryo is created. From there, development and birth, which varies by species.
In addition to the absence of claspers, females tend to be larger than males, although those differences may not always be obvious, especially in the wild.
See Also: Do Sharks Lay Eggs or Give Birth to Their Young Alive?
