Evolutionary Pressures Exerted on the Hammerhead Shark Cranium: The Advantages of Varying Cephalofoil Sizes Based on Habitat
Date
2022
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Publisher
Keyhole Press
Abstract
This paper addresses a new perspective on the discussion of the
hammerhead shark cephalofoil. Past studies have been centered around identifying
possible selective pressures that have brought on the development of
this morphology and the evolutionary trade-off that hammerheads must negotiate
because of its emergence. Rather than identifying all-encompassing
environmental pressures that apply to all hammerhead species, recent research
has prompted analysis of the varying environmental forces present in
different habitats to explain the emergence and variability in the evolution
of the hammerhead cephalofoil. This analysis of previously published studies
concludes that pelagic (open ocean) species improve sensory capabilities at
the expense of hydrodynamic efficiency through the possession of a large
cephalofoil, and that coastal species have selected for improved hydrodynamics
and maneuvering abilities at the expense of sensory acuity by reducing
the size of the cephalofoil.
Description
Recommended citation: Johnson, Sam. “Evolutionary Pressures Exerted on the Hammerhead Shark Cranium: The Advantages of Varying Cephalofoil Sizes Based on Habitat.” Royal Road, 2022. https://doi.org/10.48497/Q4SR-5638
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Keywords
Hammerhead shark, Cephalofoil, Evolution
Citation
Johnson, Sam. “Evolutionary Pressures Exerted on the Hammerhead Shark Cranium: The Advantages of Varying Cephalofoil Sizes Based on Habitat.” Royal Road, 2022. https://doi.org/10.48497/Q4SR-5638