By Patrick Cooney, Certified Fisheries Professional
The male shark circles, grabs onto the female’s pectoral fin with his mouth and bites down. He keeps a tight grip with his sharp teeth while she remains motionless. He slides in alongside her and curls his body in an arch. The act is complete when he uses one of two claspers to copulate and impregnate the female.
What is a clasper?
Similar to a penis, claspers are an external appendage found on male sharks, skates, and rays that are designed to deliver sperm inside of a female. However, they are dissimilar to a penis in that they are not an independent appendage, but rather a deeply grooved cartilaginous extension of the sharks pelvic fins.
Internal fertilization
Unlike a majority of fish that release eggs and sperm into the water for external fertilization, sharks fertilize their eggs internally. A major disadvantage of internal fertilization is the limitation on the number of young one can have at one time because growing young internally takes up space. Conversely, a major advantage of internal fertilization is the extended period of parental care that increases long term survival.
Sperm delivery
In order for female sharks to give birth to live young or fertilized eggs, males must be able to deliver sperm internally to the female. The clasper, just like the penis, is another of evolution’s unique methods for this delivery.
But why are there two claspers?
Male sharks have two claspers because sharks have two pelvic fins. The claspers are simply a modified portion of the pelvic fin, and since there are two pelvic fins, there are two claspers.
Do they use both at the same time?
Interestingly, research suggests that sharks only use one clasper at a time. Shark mating has rarely been observed, but when observed, often involves the clasper on the opposite side of the body from where it has sidled up to the female. Perhaps this allows a better range of motion.
Are there other fish with penis-like appendages?
Another group of fish that are not closely related to sharks have also developed a penis like appendage strictly for the purpose of sperm delivery. Subsequently, the females in this group also give birth to live young. The group (Poeciliidae) as a whole are called live-bearers because of this distinguishing trait. Unlike sharks, the penis-like appendage on these fish is not a part of the pelvic fins. Rather, this appendage, called a gonopodium, is part of the anal fin. Since these fish only have one anal fin, male live-bearers only have one gonopodium instead of two claspers like sharks.
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ARE THE FISHES USE SOME CHEMICHALS FOR MATING?
Yes muhammad, fish do have different organs that produce the same chemicals that we use. However, they use them in seemingly different ways. Great question, glad to help.
Also, If you would like more information 618-946-8541 or at ryanwwefan@yahoo.com. I studied at Oregon State with my PhD in marine biology.
dear kyle, please tell me the name of fish which we can easily eat and has got less mercury in it thanks in advance
Sorry, rejorden. Was in Melbourne Australia studying the blue ringed octopus. Thanks for the question but honestly the amount of mercury in a single male shark would be about the same as in a light bulb. However, distributed throughout without mixed with iron and other chemicals related to blood that lower and raise depending on level of salt and the level of nutrition the shark gets.
WTF
WTF
Thanks for these valuable informations.One doubt I wish to ask..
Are the claspers connected to the testes and the sperms deposited through claspers..?
Are there photos or videos of great whites mating? Is there some sort of truth about Orcas turning a great white on its back to kill them?
I’m sure there is. If you can’t find them I can assure to you that I will point point you in the right direction
~~ I would be orgasmic to hear your explanation on how these things “evolved” over millions of years, while sharks were unable to reproduce, and if your answer involves some prior form of copulation, why did they “evolve” to this unlikely way of doing things.
We humans have a difficult method, but I dont see us “evolving’ to another way, altho we seem to be making an attempt, every time we have at it.
You folks’ attempts to seriously present a case for evoo are hilariously rediculous….
kenn
Clearly you’ve managed to evolve a method of typing with your head up your own ass, so there’s always that.
Interesting, thank you for this, I can finally write my SidLink fanfiction.
If man fishes had some sea man do lady fish has egg
Thanks game grumps
Now, now, children, behave. We all know they were brought here from the
planet Neptune by aliens.
Wow I did not know about this