Great White Shark – Anatomy

A shark's body is shaped much like a torpedo, and its skeleton is entirely composed of cartilage. Sharks have a pointed snout, a crescent-shaped tail, five gill slits, and up to 3000 teeth. If a tooth is lost, it is continuously replaced throughout the shark's life. Internally, a shark's body has many of the same organs as humans (spleen, pancreas, rectum, liver), although there are some differences in the structure and function of these organs. For example, a shark’s liver can account for approximately 25% of its total body weight. This organ stores fatty reserves, providing buoyancy since the oils stored in the liver are less dense than water. Around a shark’s head is a complex sensory network known as the ampullae of Lorenzini, a unique part of shark anatomy. Each ampulla contains a cluster of sensory cells that allow sharks to detect prey hidden in the sand and potentially sense changes in water temperature, pressure, salinity, magnetic fields and other mechanical stimuli.