Marine Bio Christmas Quiz

What class do sharks belong to?

Chondrichthyes

What type of skeleton do sharks have?

Cartilage

One advantage of a cartilage skeleton

Lighter body; better buoyancy and flexibility

How long have sharks been around?

About 400–450 million years

What type of symmetry do sharks have?

Bilateral symmetry

What is the domain of sharks?

Eukarya

What is the kingdom of sharks?

Animalia

Which part of a scientific name is the genus?

The first word; capitalized

Which part of a scientific name is the species?

The second word; lowercase

What does anterior mean?

Toward the head or front

What does posterior mean?

Toward the tail or back

What does dorsal mean?

The top side

What does ventral mean?

The bottom side

What type of vision do sharks have?

Good low-light vision; strong at detecting movement

What are the two functions of shark ears?

Detect vibrations and help with balance

What are nares used for in sharks?

Smelling only (not breathing)

What are the Ampullae of Lorenzini?

Electroreceptors

What do electroreceptors allow sharks to do?

Detect electrical signals from prey

What is the lateral line?

A sensory system along the sides of the body

What does the lateral line detect?

Water movement and vibrations

What do shark gills do?

Exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide

Why can’t most sharks stop swimming?

They rely on ram ventilation to breathe

Name one type of shark reproduction

Oviparous, viviparous, or ovoviviparous

What does viviparous mean?

Live birth

What is the function of the dorsal fin?

Stability

What is the function of the anal fin?

Stability

What are pelvic fins used for?

Stability and reproduction

What is the function of pectoral fins?

Steering and lift

Where is the caudal fin located?

The tail

What is the function of the caudal fin?

Propulsion

Name two shark tracking devices

Satellite tags, acoustic tags, or GPS tags

Why do scientists track sharks?

To study migration, depth, behavior, and habitat use

Is shark tracking 100% accurate? Why or why not?

No; tags can fall off or lose signal

What is an MPA?

Marine Protected Area

Why are MPAs important?

They protect habitats and allow populations to recover

Name one major threat to sharks

Overfishing, finning, bycatch, habitat loss, or climate change

Name one way humans can help sharks

Conservation, reducing shark product demand, protecting MPAs

Why are sharks often feared?

Media exaggeration and misinformation

Are shark attacks common?

No; they are rare

Who poses a greater threat to sharks—humans or sharks?

Humans