If Sharks Have No Bones, Why Are They Classified as Vertebrates?
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone, also known as a spinal column. However, sharks do not have traditional bones. Their skeletons are made of cartilage, a softer and more flexible material. So, why are sharks classified as vertebrates?
The key to understanding this paradox lies in the definition of a vertebra. A vertebra is a small, bone-like segment that forms the spinal column. Vertebrae have a central opening through which the spinal cord passes. Sharks do not have individual vertebrae, but their cartilage skeletons have a series of segments that perform the same function as vertebrae. These segments are called "vertebrae."
Moreover, sharks have other features that are characteristic of vertebrates. They have a notochord, a rod-like structure that runs along the dorsal side of the body and forms the basis of the spinal column in other vertebrates. They also have a dorsal nerve cord that functions as a brain and spinal cord.
In conclusion, sharks are classified as vertebrates because they have a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, and vertebrae-like segments in their cartilage skeleton, despite the absence of traditional bones.
Related Questions:
- What is the primary material that makes up a shark's skeleton? Cartilage
- What term is used for the segments in a shark's cartilage skeleton that resemble vertebrae? Vertebrae
- Do sharks have a brain? Yes, they have a dorsal nerve cord that functions as a brain and spinal cord.
- What is the notochord? A rod-like structure that runs along the dorsal side of the body and forms the basis of the spinal column in other vertebrates.
- Why are cartilaginous skeletons more flexible than bony skeletons? Cartilage is a softer and more flexible material than bone.
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