General descriptions of the dermis structure of a juvenile whale shark <scp><i>Rhincodon typus</i></scp> from the <scp>Gulf</scp> of <scp>California</scp>

Becerril‐García, Edgar E.; Pancaldi, Francesca; Cruz-Villacorta, Ariel; Rivera-Camacho, Alma R.; Aguilar-Cruz, Carlos A.; Whitehead, Darren A.; González‐Armas, Rogelio; Arellano-Martínez, Marcial; Galván‐Magaña, Felipe

doi:10.1111/jfb.14827

Journal of Fish Biology

2021

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14827

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General descriptions of the dermis structure of a juvenile whale shark Rhincodon typus from the Gulf of California

Edgar E. Becerril‐García

Francesca Pancaldi

Ariel Cruz-Villacorta

et al.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to provide preliminary observations on the microanatomy of Rhincodon typus skin using histology and electron microscopy analyses. Skin biopsies were obtained from a deceased juvenile male shark (548 cm total length) stranded in La Paz, Mexico, during February 2018. The results of this study evidenced the basic structure of the dermal denticles in the epidermis of the trunk of the shark, as well as the composition of the connective tissue in the hypodermis. Histological images of the hy… Show more

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2024

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Cited by 3 publications

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Histological comparison of shark dermis across various ecomorphologies

Schuitema,

Motta,

Gelsleichter

et al. 2024

The Anatomical Record

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The integument plays essential roles in the structural support, protection, and hydrodynamic capability among fishes. Most research on shark skin has focused on the external epidermal layer, while the larger dermis anchoring the dermal denticles has been mostly ignored. Shark dermis is composed of two layers, the upper stratum laxum and the lower stratum compactum, holding supportive collagen and elastic fibers. There may be morphological and compositional differences in the dermis across various species of sharks that could relate to their different swimming modes and ecologies. The goal of this study was to characterize and describe the dermis among three shark species, Ginglymostoma cirratum, Sphyrna mokarran, and Isurus oxyrinchus, each representing a different swimming mode. Histological characterizations were performed at 16 locations along the body of each shark; variables such as dermal thickness, abundance of collagen and elastic fibers, and fiber size were quantified. Results showed G. cirratum has the thickest skin overall, and the largest fiber size for both collagen and elastic fibers, with overall patterns of increased amounts of collagen fibers and decreased amount of elastic fibers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I. oxyrinchus showed the thinnest dermis along the flank region, with overall patterns of increased elastic fibers and decreased collagen fibers. These findings may challenge our original assumptions of a rigid body in fast moving sharks and a more flexible body in slower moving sharks and highlight the diversity of the shark integument.

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Histological comparison of shark dermis across various ecomorphologies

Schuitema,

Motta,

Gelsleichter

et al. 2024

The Anatomical Record

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Integument morphology of the smallest Amazonian freshwater stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygoninae)

Braga,

Morales-Gamba,

de Oliveira

et al. 2024

Environ Biol Fish

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Killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunt, kill and consume the largest fish on Earth, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

Pancaldi,

Ayres,

Gallagher

et al. 2024

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are the apex predator in global oceans, and as such they are afforded access to prey species at all trophic levels and sizes. Due to their enhanced cognitive abilities, they are frequent predators of other ocean giants, including large sharks. Observations of these predator-prey interactions are rare globally; however, records appear to be increasing in recent years, possibly due to increased access to surveillance. Here we present reports of killer whales hunting and preying on the world’s largest fish species, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), by collating and analyzing photo and video footage collected from four unique predation events spanning six years (2018 – 2024) in the southern Gulf of California. Across all events, orcas displayed a seemingly approach to collaboratively hunting and killing whale sharks, characterized by focusing on attacking the pelvic area (claspers and pelvic fins) which exsanguinates the prey and allows access to the lipid-rich liver. Photo identification of the killer whales revealed that an individual adult male “Moctezuma” was engaged in three of the four events, and the females involved in event four had previously been sighted with him. We suggest the potential existence of a specialized pod of elasmobranch-hunting killer whales occurring in the Gulf of California.

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General descriptions of the dermis structure of a juvenile whale shark Rhincodon typus from the Gulf of California

Cited by 3 publications

References 32 publications

Histological comparison of shark dermis across various ecomorphologies

Histological comparison of shark dermis across various ecomorphologies

Integument morphology of the smallest Amazonian freshwater stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygoninae)

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunt, kill and consume the largest fish on Earth, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

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