Pectoral fins originate behind the head and extend outwards. These fins are used for steering during swimming and help to provide the shark with lift.
Do dogfish have pectoral fins?
The longnose spurdog has pectoral fins with rounded free rear tips while the Cuban dogfish’s pectoral fins have pointed free rear tips. The spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and the roughskin dogfish (Cirrhigaleus asper) have a first dorsal fin originating over or posterior to the free rear tips of the pectoral fins.
Why do fish need pectoral fins?
The caudal fin or tail is not the only fin a fish uses to swim. For example, the pectoral fins, which sit almost horizontally on the body of rapidly swimming oceanic fish, along with the pelvic fins, play an important role by acting as stabilizers to prevent the fish from rolling as it moves through the water.
Do sharks have pectoral fins?
Most sharks are designed for efficient motion through the water. They have three types of median fins (dorsal, anal, and caudal) and two sets of paired fins (pelvic and pectoral).
What do pectoral and pelvic fins do?
Pelvic and pectoral fins are usually paired, allowing a fish to fine-tune its movements. Pelvic fins, located on the bottom of the fish in front of the anal fin, help balance the fish, keep it level, and prevent it from rolling from side to side. Fish sometimes rest by sitting on their pelvic fins.
What is special about the pectoral fins?
The pectoral fins are the two fins located on the sides of a fish (or marine mammal). These fins are primarily responsible for control of directional movement, up and down or side to side. Pectoral fins can come in all shapes and sizes which fill different functions for different fish.
What is unique about the dogfish shark?
Atlantic spiny dogfish are small sharks with a long and complex history in U.S. waters. Wielding two venomous spines and growing as long as 4 feet, Atlantic spiny dogfish can often be seen hunting prey in dog-like packs (hence the dog-like name).
What is the main function of the pectoral fins group of answer choices?
Table 4.9.
Description | Adapted function |
---|---|
Dorsal and anal fins | Modified to increase propulsion |
Pectoral and tail fins | Modified for soaring in air |
Are pectoral fins the same as flippers?
Flipper is the vernacular term for the pectoral fin of fish and certain marine mammals. It corresponds to the arm and hand of terrestrial animals, although technically, pectoral derives from pectoralis — which actually means breast or chest — and is a bit of a misnomer anatomically.
What is the definition of a pectoral fin?
pectoral fin in British English
noun. either of a pair of fins, situated just behind the head in fishes, that help to control the direction of movement during locomotion.
How do sharks use pectoral fins?
Pectoral Fin
They are the pair of fins located on either side of the body along the pectoral muscle line. The pectoral fins control the direction the shark swims and help maintain balance in the water. Pectoral fins help the shark make turns, swim up or down, and roll its body.
What does each fin on a shark do?
Sharks have a large dorsal fin which provides balance. Usually they’ll also have a smaller dorsal fin further back towards their tail. Their pectoral fins are used to steer and lift themselves in the water. And their tails are used to propel themselves forward.
Do pectoral fins spin?
Spines can be present on the dorsal, pectoral, anal and pelvic fins (figure 1).
What shark has long pectoral fins?
The longfin mako shark is named for its particularly long pectoral fins that are as long as or longer than its head. Like its close relative the shortfin mako shark, the longfin mako shark is characterized by its large eyes and long, blade-like teeth that protrude from its mouth.
What common feature is absent in the dogfish shark?
anal fin
There is no notch on the upper caudal lobe and the lower caudal lobe is not well-developed. There is no anal fin on the spiny dogfish.
Is dogfish poisonous?
Meet the Pacific spiny dogfish
As their name suggests, spiny dogfish sharks sport sharp, venomous (poisonous) spines in front of each dorsal fin.
Can dogfish bite you?
Using sharp, venomous spines in the front of each dorsal fin, the spiny dogfish is a small but mighty predator that isn’t afraid to take a jab at passing fish. They are considered one of the most abundant living shark species in the ocean, but are harmless to humans.
What is the function of a pectoral?
pectoralis muscle, any of the muscles that connect the front walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder. There are two such muscles on each side of the sternum (breastbone) in the human body: pectoralis major and pectoralis minor.
What is the difference between dorsal fins and pectoral fins?
Most fish have a pair of fins on their ventral side (belly), called the pectoral fins. These are often used for steering, quickly changing direction and braking. The fins that are observed on the dorsal side (top) of the fish are called the dorsal fins. The caudal and the anal fins are located on the ventral side.
What are pectoral fins made of?
Pectoral fins are made of cartilage and bone. They are similar to the skeletal structure of land mammals with fingers and ball and socket joints. In some cases, the flippers are held rather rigidly out from the body as dolphins have a stiff foreflipper without the movable elbow joint in most mammals.
What fins do Navy Seals use?
SEAL Team members are pictured wearing Pro Model Force Fins. Their wing tips are secured in an upward position for entry.