Cartilaginous Fish

What is cartilage?

Cartilage is the flexible substance found that gives human noses and ears their shape.

What are all of the fins' names?

Caudal or tail fin, dorsal fins, anal fin, pelvic fin and pectoral fins

What class do sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras fall under?

Chrondrichthyes

True/False: Chrondrichthyes have paired fins, hard scales, a three-chambered heart and a pair of nostrils.

False: Chrondrichthyes have paired fins, hard scales, a two-chambered heart and a pair of nostrils.

What is the pelvic fin used for?

It is used to stabilize the shark in the water. In male sharks, there may be an organ on them called a clasper that is used during mating.

How many gill slits do most Chrondrichthyes have?

Most species have 5-7 gill slits on each side of their body.

What is the job of pectoral fins?

Pectoral fins are used for steering and to give the shark lift in the water.

What kind of skeleton does a shark have?

The species in this class have a flexible skeleton made of cartilage instead of bone.

What is the tail called?

The tail is called the caudal fin and has a top and bottom part. The two parts may look nothing alike and can be different shapes and sizes.

What is the fin on the stomach called?

The fin on the stomach is the pelvic fin.

What is the fin that is found on the underside of the shark called?

The fin that is found on the underside of the shark is called the anal fin which is at the base of the tail. The anal fin is not found on all sharks. The anal fin is also used for stabilization.

What the fins on the side of the shark?

The fins on the side of a shark are the pectoral fins.

What are the fins on a shark's back called?

The fins on their back are called dorsal fins. Some species have one dorsal fin and others have two dorsal fins. In some species, the dorsal fin has a stiff spine, and in other species, there is no spine. There are even some species that have a poisonous spine on their dorsal fins.

Where are the shark's fins placed on its body?

Sharks have fins on their back, sides, and stomachs.

How do sharks swim?

Sharks swim by moving their heads and tails from side to side in the water. They use fins to stabilize themselves when they swim, to steer themselves in the water or to propel themselves through the water.

How do some Chrondrichthyes give reproduce?

Some species produce egg cases, others give birth to live young.

What is the caudal fin used for?

The caudal fin is used to propel the shark through the water.