Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
06:27
Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes
Published on: September 4, 2016
10.4K
Modelling tooth-prey interactions in sharks: the importance of dynamic testing
Katherine A Corn1, Stacy C Farina2, Jeffrey Brash3
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology , Cornell University , Ithaca, NY , USA.
Royal Society Open Science
|November 18, 2016
Summary
Shark teeth performance varies; some are sharp but dull quickly, while others are less sharp but more durable. Dynamic testing reveals these crucial differences in cutting ability and wear.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Biomechanics
- Ichthyology
Background:
- Shark tooth morphology is diverse across species.
- Previous testing methods failed to link tooth shape to performance.
- Understanding tooth function is key to shark biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the cutting performance and wear of shark teeth.
- To investigate the relationship between tooth morphology and dynamic performance.
- To develop a novel testing method for shark teeth.
Main Methods:
- Developed a dynamic testing device simulating shark feeding behaviors (head-shaking).
- Attached shark teeth to a reciprocating power saw.
- Tested three distinct shark tooth types at biologically relevant speeds.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in cutting ability and wear were observed among tested shark teeth.
- Bluntnose sixgill shark teeth exhibited poor cutting but no wear.
- Tiger, sandbar, and silky shark teeth showed higher cutting ability but also wear.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic testing is essential for accurately assessing shark tooth performance.
- Shark teeth exhibit a trade-off between sharpness and durability.
- This study provides new insights into the functional morphology of shark dentition.
Related Concept Videos
02:39Predator-Prey Interactions
22.1K
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
22.1K
00:48Optimal Foraging
14.2K
How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
14.2K
01:21Tooth Anatomy
2.5K
The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
2.5K
01:15Teeth
2.0K
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
2.0K
01:06Fixed Action Patterns
18.0K
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
18.0K