Functional morphology of the nasal region of a hammerhead shark

Richard L Abel, James S Maclaine, Ross Cotton, Viet Bui Xuan, Timothy B Nickels, Thomas H Clark, Zhijin Wang, Jonathan P L Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Citations (SciVal)
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Abstract

We describe several novel morphological features in the nasal region of the hammerhead shark Sphyrna tudes. Unlike the open, rounded incurrent nostril of non-hammerhead shark species, the incurrent nostril of S. tudes is a thin keyhole-like aperture. We discovered a groove running anterior and parallel to the incurrent nostril. This groove, dubbed the minor nasal groove to distinguish it from the larger, previously described, (major) nasal groove, is common to all eight hammerhead species. Using life-sized plasticmodels generated at 200 μm resolution from an X-ray scan, we also investigated flow in the nasal region. Even modest oncoming flow speeds stimulate extensive, but not complete, circulation within the model olfactory chamber, with flow passing through the two main olfactory channels. Flow crossed from one channel to another via a gap in the olfactory array, sometimes guided by the interlamellar channels. Major and minor nasal grooves, as well as directing flow into the olfactory chamber, can, in conjunction with the nasal bridge separating incurrent and excurrent nostrils, limit flow passing into the olfactory chamber, possibly to protect the delicate nasal structures. This is the first simulation of internal flow within the olfactory chamber of a shark.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)464-475
Number of pages12
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology A - Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Volume155
Issue number4
Early online date31 Oct 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2010
Eventthe Annual Meeting of the SEB - Glasgow, UK United Kingdom
Duration: 28 Jun 20091 Jul 2009

Bibliographical note

Paper presented 28th June 2015 at the Annual Meeting of the SEB

Keywords

  • hammerhead shark
  • x-ray micro-computed tomography
  • flow visualisation
  • olfactory organ

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