Puncture Performance of Shark Teeth from Carcharhinus plumbeus on Various Prey Items

Hasson, Alexandra

Puncture Performance of Shark Teeth from Carcharhinus plumbeus on Various Prey Items

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/56714

Author(s)

Hasson, Alexandra

Date Issued

April 2023

Abstract

Sharks possess many types of teeth in order to perform various tasks. While tooth morphology has been believed to be associated with the form and function of teeth, there has now been evidence opposing this. Previous literature has also often ignored how well shark teeth are able to puncture through different prey items. The present study utilized the piercing and cutting teeth of Carcharhinus plumbeus in order to determine the maximum force required to puncture shrimp, Lutjanus campechanus, and Loligo sp. I hypothesized that the material properties of the prey would have an effect on the performance of the tooth types and that narrower teeth would require less force to puncture prey than broader, more serrated teeth. Tooth morphology was assessed by taking measurements of the teeth, which included base-cusp width, cusp height, mesial and distal cutting edge length, cusp inclination and cusp aspect ratio. For performance testing, teeth were adhered onto PVC fittings that were secured onto a first class lever, and a Rapala scale was used to measure the maximum force. Differences in tooth type, prey item, and an interaction between tooth type and prey item were found to be significant. Piercing teeth required less force to puncture across all prey items. For both cutting and piercing teeth, L. campechanus required the most force to puncture, while Loligo sp. and shrimp required the least. The present study’s findings indicate C. plumbeus is able to successfully consume these prey items, that the tooth morphology of C. plumbeus is related to the form and function of teeth, and that the diet of C. plumbeus may be independent of its tooth morphology.

Major

Biology

Honors

Biology, 2023

First Reader(s)

Whitenack, Lisa B.