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Parts of a Shark
| Photo modified from Sharks and Rays. TC Tricas, K Deacon, P Last, JE McCosker, TI Walker, L Taylor. 1997. Nature Company Guides, Time Life Book Series. Weldon Owen Pty Ltd San Francisco. |
Respiration
The shark extracts oxygen from the water
to metabolize their food. The gills are found on five to seven vertical arches
that form the walls of the external gill slits. In a seperate chamber beneath
the gills, the heart pumps oxygen-depleted blood to capillary beds in the
arches. Water is pumped into the mouth and out across the gills counter to the
direction of blood flow. This exchange system greatly enhances the rate and
efficiency of oxygen diffusion into the blood.
| Photo modified from Sharks and Rays. TC Tricas, K Deacon, P Last, JE McCosker, TI Walker, L Taylor. 1997. Nature Company Guides, Time Life Book Series. Weldon Owen Pty Ltd San Francisco. |
The illustration above shows the heart, gill arches and direction of water flow. Water enters the mouth (and spiracles), passes over the gills and out the gill slits.
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