The distribution and abundance of electrosensory pores in two benthic sharks: a comparison of the wobbegong shark, Orectolobus maculatus, and the angel shark, Squatina australis
Channing A. Egeberg A , Ryan M. Kempster A C , Susan M. Theiss B , Nathan S. Hart A and Shaun P. Collin A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The UWA Oceans Institute and the School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B Fisheries Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, GPO Box 46, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: ryankempster@supportoursharks.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 65(11) 1003-1008 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13213
Submitted: 8 August 2013 Accepted: 10 February 2014 Published: 17 October 2014
Abstract
Electroreception is an ancient sense found in many aquatic animals, including sharks, which may be used in the detection of prey, predators and mates. Wobbegong sharks (Orectolobidae) and angel sharks (Squatinidae) represent two distantly related families that have independently evolved a similar dorso-ventrally compressed body form to complement their benthic ambush feeding strategy. Consequently, these groups represent useful models in which to investigate the specific morphological and physiological adaptations that are driven by the adoption of a benthic lifestyle. In this study, we compared the distribution and abundance of electrosensory pores in the spotted wobbegong shark (Orectolobus maculatus) with the Australian angel shark (Squatina australis) to determine whether both species display a similar pattern of clustering of sub-dermal electroreceptors and to further understand the functional importance of electroreception in the feeding behaviour of these benthic sharks. Orectolobus maculatus has a more complex electrosensory system than S. australis, with a higher abundance of pores and an additional cluster of electroreceptors positioned in the snout (the superficial ophthalmic cluster). Interestingly, both species possess a cluster of pores (the hyoid cluster, positioned slightly posterior to the first gill slit) more commonly found in rays, but which may be present in all benthic elasmobranchs to assist in the detection of approaching predators.
Additional keywords: ambush feeding behaviour, ampullae of Lorenzini, Elasmobranch, electroreception, predator avoidance.
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