Teeth penetration force of the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier and sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus |
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| Authors: | J. N. Bergman M. J. Lajeunesse P. J. Motta |
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| Affiliation: | 1. University of South Florida, Department of Integrative Biology, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL, U.S.A.;2. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue S.E., Saint Petersburg, FL, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
This study examined the minimum force required of functional teeth and replacement teeth in the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier and the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus to penetrate the scales and muscle of sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus and pigfish Orthopristis chrysoptera. Penetration force ranged from 7·7–41·9 and 3·2–26·3 N to penetrate A. probatocephalus and O. chrysoptera, respectively. Replacement teeth required significantly less force to penetrate O. chrysoptera for both shark species, most probably due to microscopic wear of the tooth surfaces supporting the theory shark teeth are replaced regularly to ensure sharp teeth that are efficient for prey capture. |
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| Keywords: | biomechanics bite force Elasmobranchii teleost tooth morphology |
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