Chiloscyllium Punctatum Research Articles

Isolation and characterization of collagen from the cartilages of brownbanded bamboo shark ( Chiloscyllium punctatum) and blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus limbatus)

Acid soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) from the cartilages of brownbanded bamboo shark (BBS; Chiloscyllium punctatum) and blacktip shark (BTS; Carcharhinus limbatus) were isolated and characterized. ASC and PSC extracted from BBS cartilage showed the yields of 1.27 and 9.59 g/100 g (Based on dry weight), respectively, while yields of ASC and PSC from BTS cartilage were 1.04 and 10.30 g/100 g (based on dry weight), respectively. All collagens had protein as a major constituent with the trace amount of ash and fat. They contained glycine as the major amino acid with high contents of alanine, proline and hydroxyproline. Based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns and subunit compositions, all collagens more likely comprised 2 types of collagen, type I and II, and contained α- and β-chains as the major components. Peptide maps of those collagens from both species digested by V8-protease and lysyl endopeptidase were different and were completely different from those of type I collagen from calf skin. Thermal transition temperature of ASC from those collagens (36.28–36.73 °C) was slightly higher than their corresponding PSC (34.56–35.98 °C). From zeta potential analysis, isoelectric points (pI) of collagen from the cartilages of BBS and BTS were estimated to be from 6.53 to 7.03 and from 6.96 to 7.26, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of both ASC and PSC were quite similar, suggesting that pepsin hydrolysis did not affect the secondary structure of collagen, especially triple-helical structure.

Isolation and Characterisation of collagen from the skin of brownbanded bamboo shark ( Chiloscyllium punctatum)

Acid soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) from the skin of brownbanded bamboo shark ( Chiloscyllium punctatum) were isolated and characterised. The yield of ASC and PSC were 9.38% and 8.86% (wet weight basis), respectively. Based on protein patterns and TOYOPEARL ® CM-650M column chromatography, both collagens contained α- and β-chains as their major components. These were characterised as type I collagen with the cross-link of α2-chain. As digested by V8-protease and lysyl endopeptidase, peptide maps of both ASC and PSC were similar, but differed from that of type I collagen from calf skin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of both collagens were similar and pepsin hydrolysis had no effect on triple-helical structure of collagen. Transition temperature ( T max) of ASC and PSC were 34.45 and 34.52 °C, respectively, as determined by differential scanning colorimetry (DSC). From zeta potential study, the isoelectric points of ASC and PSC were estimated to be 6.21 and 6.56, respectively. Therefore, the skin of brownbanded bamboo shark could serve as an alternative source of collagen for different applications.

Comparative study on characteristics of gelatin from the skins of brownbanded bamboo shark and blacktip shark as affected by extraction conditions

Gelatins from the skins of brownbanded bamboo shark (BBS; Chiloscyllium punctatum) and blacktip shark (BTS; Carcharhinus limbatus) were extracted using the distilled water at different temperatures (45, 60 and 75 °C) and times (6 and 12 h). Yields of gelatin from the skins of BBS and BTS were 19.06–22.81% and 21.17–24.76% (based on wet weight), respectively. Gelatins from both species extracted at 45 °C for 6 h exhibited the highest bloom strength (206–214 g), which was higher than that of commercial bovine bone gelatin (197 g) ( p < 0.05). Gelatin gels from BBS skin could set at room temperature (25–26 °C) within 24 min. However, gelatin gels from BTS skin was not able to set within 3 h at the same temperature. Scanning electron microscopic study showed that gelatin gel from BBS skin presented the thicker strand than those from BTS skin and bovine bone. Cross-linked components (β- and γ-chains) and α-chains were more degraded with increasing extraction temperatures, especially at 75 °C. Gelatin from BTS skin was more susceptible to hydrolysis than that from BBS skin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study revealed that the major absorption bands of gelatin from the skins of both sharks shifted to a higher wavenumber, compared with their corresponding acid soluble collagen (ASC). Therefore, gelatins from the skin of BBS has a potential to replace mammalian for gelatin, due to its similarity in bloom strength and setting behavior to the commercial bovine bone gelatin.

Embryonic development of glial cells and myelin in the shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum

Glial cells are responsible for a wide range of functions in the nervous system of vertebrates. The myelinated nervous systems of extant elasmobranchs have the longest independent history of all gnathostomes. Much is known about the development of glia in other jawed vertebrates, but research in elasmobranchs is just beginning to reveal the mechanisms guiding neurodevelopment. This study examines the development of glial cells in the bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum, by identifying the expression pattern of several classic glial and myelin proteins. We show for the first time that glial development in the bamboo shark ( C. punctamum) embryo follows closely the one observed in other vertebrates and that neural development seems to proceed at a faster rate in the PNS than in the CNS. In addition, we observed more myelinated tracts in the PNS than in the CNS, and as early as stage 32, suggesting that the ontogeny of myelin in sharks is closer to osteichthyans than agnathans.

Hematological responses of the grey carpet shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) and the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) to anoxia and re‐oxygenation

We compared the hematological responses of wild and captive populations of two closely related sharks to a standardized anoxic challenge and during a 12 hr recovery period in normoxia: the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum, Bonnaterre, 1788) and the grey carpet shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum, Müller and Henle, 1838). Compared to normoxic controls, a significant increase in hematocrit (captive 22.3%; wild 35.9%) coupled with a decline in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration occurred in epaulette sharks indicating erythrocyte swelling in response to anoxia. However, the grey carpet shark had a significantly increased hematocrit (captive 27.2%; wild 29.3%), erythrocyte count (captive 37.6%; wild 46.3%) and hemoglobin concentration (captive 31.9%; wild 31.5%), suggesting a release of erythrocytes into the circulation and/or hemoconcentration in response to anoxia. Plasma glucose concentrations were maintained in both wild and captive epaulette sharks and in wild grey carpet sharks during anoxia but increased significantly after 2 hr of re-oxygenation (epaulette: captive 55.8%; wild 50.1%; grey carpet shark: wild 70.3%) and remained elevated for 12 hr. Captive grey carpet sharks had an immediate increase in plasma glucose concentrations after anoxia (96.4%), which was sustained for 12 hr of re-oxygenation. Lactate concentrations significantly increased in captive and wild animals of both species after anoxia, reaching a peak at 2 hr of re-oxygenation. Both species showed significant, yet divergent, hematological changes in response to anoxia and re-oxygenation, which may not only prolong their survival and assist in recovery but also reflect their respective ecophysiological adaptations to the extreme environments that they inhabit.

Morphology and Lectin histochemistry of the testes of brown-banded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum)

The testes of three brown-banded bamboo male sharks collected from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan were used in this study. The testes were studied grossly and microscopically. In addition, conventional and lectin histochemistry (panel of 8 HRP lectins, UEA-I, DBA, LCA, PNA, ConA, PHA-E4, WGA and RCA 120) were applied for studying the glycoconjugates.

Turning maneuvers in sharks: Predicting body curvature from axial morphology

Given the diversity of vertebral morphologies among fishes, it is tempting to propose causal links between axial morphology and body curvature. We propose that shape and size of the vertebrae, intervertebral joints, and the body will more accurately predict differences in body curvature during swimming rather than a single meristic such as total vertebral number alone. We examined the correlation between morphological features and maximum body curvature seen during routine turns in five species of shark: Triakis semifasciata, Heterodontus francisci, Chiloscyllium plagiosum, Chiloscyllium punctatum, and Hemiscyllium ocellatum. We quantified overall body curvature using three different metrics. From a separate group of size-matched individuals, we measured 16 morphological features from precaudal vertebrae and the body. As predicted, a larger pool of morphological features yielded a more robust prediction of maximal body curvature than vertebral number alone. Stepwise linear regression showed that up to 11 features were significant predictors of the three measures of body curvature, yielding highly significant multiple regressions with r(2) values of 0.523, 0.537, and 0.584. The second moment of area of the centrum was always the best predictor, followed by either centrum length or transverse height. Ranking as the fifth most important variable in three different models, the body's total length, fineness ratio, and width were the most important non-vertebral morphologies. Without considering the effects of muscle activity, these correlations suggest a dominant role for the vertebral column in providing the passive mechanical properties of the body that control, in part, body curvature during swimming.

Retinal neurogenesis and ontogenetic changes in the visual system of the brown banded bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum (hemiscyllidae, elasmobranchii)

The development of the eye of the oviparous brown banded bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum, was monitored from egg deposition through adulthood. The order and timing of retinal cell differentiation were assessed by light and transmission electron microscopy. As in other vertebrates, the ganglion cells are the first to differentiate, in this case by 81 days post-egg deposition (dpd). The order then deviates from what is typically quoted for vertebrates, with the Müller and amacrine cells differentiating morphologically around the same time, followed by the bipolar cells (101 dpd) and finally the horizontal cells and photoreceptors (124 dpd). The neural retina is fully differentiated and synaptic connections are formed approximately 1 month prior to hatching, which occurs at about 158 dpd. The mature retina is duplex, with a peak rod to cone ratio of approximately 12:1. The eye and lens of C. punctatum continue to grow throughout life and become less aspherical with growth; the equatorial (nasotemporal) lens diameter is 12% larger than the axial (anterior-posterior) lens diameter in embryos and 8% larger in adults. Access to developmental stages and the protracted gestational period of C. punctatum make it a highly valuable model for developmental studies of the visual system. This study also provides an evolutionary perspective on retinal neurogenesis in an elasmobranch.

A revision of the family Dissonidae Kurtz, 1924 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida)

Two new species of the parasitic copepod genus Dissonus Wilson, 1906 are described: D. excavatus n. sp. from the gills of a labrid, Bodianus perditio, and a lutjanid, Macolor niger, collected off New Caledonia and Taiwan, and D. inaequalis n. sp. from a hemiscylliid elasmobranch, Chiloscyllium punctatum, collected off Sarawak (Malaysia) and the Philippines. Material of D. heronensis Kabata, 1966 is described from a balistid host, Pseudobalistes fuscus, off New Caledonia, and this constitutes a new host record for this parasite. D. manteri Kabata, 1966 was collected from four serranid host species off New Caledonia and from one of the same hosts off Taiwan. Two of the hosts from New Caledonia, Plectropomus laevis and Epinephelus cyanopodus, represent new host records. D. pastinum Deets & Dojiri, 1990 was recognised as a new synonym of D. nudiventris Kabata, 1966, so the total number of valid species is now twelve. Material from museum collections of D. nudiventris, D. similis Kabata, 1966 and D. spinifer Wilson, 1906 was re-examined and provided new information which is utilised in a key to all valid species of Dissonus.

Cloning and characterization of a type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (D3) in the liver of the chondrichtyan chiloscyllium punctatum

Thyroid hormone bioactivity is finely regulated at the cellular level by the peripheral iodothyronine deiodinases (D). The study of thyroid function in fish has been restricted mainly to teleosts, whereas the study and characterization of Ds have been overlooked in chondrichthyes. Here we report the cloning and operational characterization of both the native and the recombinant hepatic type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase in the tropical shark Chiloscyllium punctatum. Native and recombinant sD3 show identical catalytic activities: a strong preference for T3-inner-ring deiodination, a requirement for a high concentration of DTT, a sequential reaction mechanism, and resistance to PTU inhibition. The cloned cDNA contains 1298 nucleotides [excluding the poly(A) tail] and encodes a predicted protein of 259 amino acids. The triplet TGA coding for selenocysteine (Sec) is at position 123. The consensus selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) was identified 228bp upstream of the poly(A) tail and corresponds to form 2. The deduced amino acid sequence was 77% and 72% identical to other D3 cDNAs in fishes and other vertebrates, respectively. As in the case of other piscivore teleost species, shark expresses hepatic D3 through adulthood. This characteristic may be associated with the alimentary strategy in which the protection from an exogenous overload of thyroid hormones could be of physiological importance for thyroidal homeostasis.

Captive breeding and embryonic development of Chiloscyllium punctatum Muller &amp; Henle, 1838 (Elasmobranchii: Hemiscyllidae)

The fecundity, embryonic development, growth and viability of captive Chiloscyllium punctatum were investigated over two breeding and laying seasons. Chiloscyllium punctatum is an oviparous species, which lays rectangular eggs from late July to February. The six adult female C. punctatum in the open ocean display tank at UnderWater World, Mooloolaba, Australia laid a total of 692 eggs between July 2004 and February 2006, with 228 of those being viable. This equates to each female laying 115·3 eggs over the two seasons, with 38 viable. The embryos are first visible to the naked eye at c. 18 days post deposition (dpd), while pre‐hatching is first seen c. 35 dpd, and the embryos hatch at an average of 153 dpd (temperature 21–25° C). Embryonic growth is most rapid from 99 dpd until hatching. An average of 21·4% of the eggs hatched over the two seasons.

Insights from sharks: Evolutionary and developmental models of fin development

AbstractA Brown‐banded Catshark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) embryo removed from its egg casing. Total length 61 mm. See Cole et al., Developmental Dynamics 236:2421‐2431.

SEVEN NEW YORKERIA SPECIES (CESTODA: TETRAPHYLLIDEA) FROM BORNEO AND AUSTRALIA AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CHILOSCYLLIUM (ELASMOBRANCHII: ORECTOLOBIFORMES) SPECIES

New material of Yorkeria Southwell, 1927, collected from Chiloscyllium Müller & Henle species, i.e., bamboo sharks, from Malaysian Borneo and eastern Australia was found to include specimens that appear to be consistent with, and thus allow redescription of, the poorly characterized type of the genus, Yorkeria parva Southwell, 1927, as well as 7 new species of tetraphyllidean cestodes from the genus Yorkeria. Discovered in Borneo were Y. parva and Yorkeria teeveeyi n. sp. from Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin), Yorkeria garneri n. sp. from Chiloscyllium hasselti Bleeker, Yorkeria pusillulus n. sp., Yorkeria saliputium n. sp., and Yorkeria yubodohensis n. sp. from Chiloscyllium punctatum Miller & Henle. In Australia, a shark species tentatively identified as Chiloscyllium cf. punctatum was found to host Yorkeria izardi n. sp. and Yorkeria longstaffae n. sp. Three of the new species resemble Yorkeria kelleyae Caira & Tracy, 2002, described from sharks identified as C. punctatum in Thailand, in their possession of medial and lateral hooks that are approximately equal in length. All 3 can be distinguished from Y. kelleyae, however, in their possession of vitelline follicles that are not interrupted at the level of the ovary; they differ from one another in that 1 is hyperapolytic (Y. saliputium n. sp.), and the other 2 possess round (Y. pusillulus n. sp.) versus tapered (Y. longstaffae n. sp.) bothridia. Among species with medial and lateral hooks that are conspicuously unequal in length, only Y. izardi n. sp. possesses bothridia that taper posteriorly and almost completely overlap the cephalic peduncle, stopping just short of its posterior margin. Yorkeria garneri n. sp. is distinctive in its possession of mature proglottids that are only slightly longer than wide, rather than distinctly longer than wide. Particularly notable is Y. teeveeyi n. sp., which bears a stobila on which 2-3 of the subterminal proglottids are consistently more mature than the terminal proglottid. Yorkeria yubodohensis n. sp. most closely resembles Y. parva, differing in the pattern of microtriches seen on its scolex, and also in its possession of relatively fewer proglottids. This brings the total number of Yorkeria species described worldwide to 12. The host associations of these cestodes raise questions about the conspecificity of bamboo shark specimens identified as C. punctatum in Thailand, Borneo, and Australia, since individuals in each of these 3 regions appear to host distinctive, nonoverlapping Yorkeria faunas. A key to the 12 known species of Yorkeria is provided.

The directional hearing abilities of two species of bamboo sharks

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were used to measure the directional hearing thresholds of the white-spotted bamboo shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum and the brown-banded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium punctatum at four frequencies and seven directions, using a shaker table designed to mimic the particle motion component of sound. Over most directions and frequencies there were no significant differences in acceleration thresholds, suggesting that the sharks have omni-directional hearing abilities. Goldfish Carassius auratus were used as a baseline to compare a species with specialized hearing adaptations versus sharks with no known adaptations, and were found to have more sensitive directional responses than the sharks. Composite audiograms of the sharks were created from the average of all of the directions at each frequency and were compared with an audiogram obtained for C. plagiosum using a dipole stimulus. The dipole stimulus audiograms were significantly lower at 50 and 200 Hz compared to the shaker audiograms in terms of particle acceleration. This difference is hypothesized to be a result of the dipole stimulating the macula neglecta, which would not be stimulated by the shaker table.

Orectolobicestus n. g. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea), with the description of five new species and the transfer of Phyllobothrium chiloscyllii to the new genus

ORECTOLOBICESTUS N. G. (CESTODA: Tetraphyllidea) is erected for six cestode species parasitising bamboo sharks (Orectolobiformes: Chiloscyllium). Members of this genus differ from all other phyllobothriid genera in possessing modified maisiform spinitriches on their distal bothridial surfaces. In addition, they are easily recognised in that they share the following unique combination of characters: their vitelline fields are interrupted by the ovary, their necks are scutellate, and their bothridia bear an apical sucker and marginal loculi. Five new species of Orectolobicestus are described, including O. tyleri n. sp. from Chiloscyllium punctatum off Borneo, O. lorettae n. sp. from C. cf. punctatum off Australia, O. mukahensis n. sp. and O. kelleyae n. sp. from C. indicum off Borneo, and O. randyi n.sp. from C. hasselti also from off Borneo. In addition, Phyllobothrium chiloscyllii Subhapradha, 1955 is transferred to the new genus. O. chiloscyllii (Subhapradha, 1955) n. comb. is readily distinguished from all five new species in its greater total length. In addition to a number of proglottid features, O. kelleyae n. sp. and O. randyi n. sp. clearly differ from the other three new species in their possession of trifid, rather than fully serrate, spinitriches on their proximal bothridial surfaces. The latter two species conspicuously differ from one another in total number of proglottids (11-21 vs 27-38). O. tyleri n. sp. generally has fewer proglottids than O. lorrettae n. sp. (7-17 vs 13-23) and, like O. mukahensis n. sp., possesses scutes that are spathate rather than elongate. O. tyleri n. sp. is readily distinguished from O. mukahensis n. sp. in its possession of fewer proglottids (7-17 vs. 19-29). The five new species of Orectolobicestus share derived bothridial microthrix features with Phyllobothrium squali Yamaguti, 1952, Thysanocephalum sp., Orygmatobothrium sp., Ruhnkecestus Caira & Durkin, 2006 and species of Paraorygmatobothrium Ruhnke, 1994. Among these taxa, Orectolobicestus most closely resembles Paraorygmatobothrium and Ruhnkecestus in its vitelline fields being interrupted by the ovary and the possession of a scutellate neck.

Metabolic organization of freshwater, euryhaline, and marine elasmobranchs: implications for the evolution of energy metabolism in sharks and rays

To test the hypothesis that the preference for ketone bodies rather than lipids as oxidative fuel in elasmobranchs evolved in response to the appearance of urea-based osmoregulation, we measured total non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in plasma as well as maximal activities of enzymes of intermediary metabolism in tissues from marine and freshwater elasmobranchs, including: the river stingray Potamotrygon motoro (<1 mmol l(-1) plasma urea); the marine stingray Taeniura lymma, and the marine shark Chiloscyllium punctatum (>300 mmol l(-1) plasma urea); and the euryhaline freshwater stingray Himantura signifer, which possesses intermediate levels of urea. H. signifer also were acclimated to half-strength seawater (15 per thousand) for 2 weeks to ascertain the metabolic effects of the higher urea level that results from salinity acclimation. Our results do not support the urea hypothesis. Enzyme activities and plasma NEFA in salinity-challenged H. signifer were largely unchanged from the freshwater controls, and the freshwater elasmobranchs did not show an enhanced capacity for extrahepatic lipid oxidation relative to the marine species. Importantly, and contrary to previous studies, extrahepatic lipid oxidation does occur in elasmobranchs, based on high carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) activities in kidney and rectal gland. Heart CPT in the stingrays was detectable but low, indicating some capacity for lipid oxidation. CPT was undetectable in red muscle, and almost undetectable in heart, from C. punctatum as well as in white muscle from T. lymma. We propose a revised model of tissue-specific lipid oxidation in elasmobranchs, with high levels in liver, kidney and rectal gland, low or undetectable levels in heart, and none in red or white muscle. Plasma NEFA levels were low in all species, as previously noted in elasmobranchs. D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (d-beta-HBDH) was high in most tissues confirming the importance of ketone bodies in elasmobranchs. However, very low d-beta-HBDH in kidney from T. lymma indicates that interspecific variability in ketone body utilization occurs. A negative relationship was observed across species between liver glutamate dehydrogenase activity and tissue or plasma urea levels, suggesting that glutamate is preferentially deaminated in freshwater elasmobranchs because it does not need to be shunted to urea production as in marine elasmobranchs.

Habitat partitioning among four elasmobranch species in nearshore, shallow waters of a subtropical embayment in Western Australia

There is a need to explore, in an integrated and statistical manner, how the number of species, relative abundance, species composition and life-cycle stages of elasmobranchs in nearshore waters vary among habitat types and during the year. Therefore, four sites in a large marine embayment, each representing a different habitat type, were sampled at regular intervals. These sites were: (1) unvegetated, with no vegetation within at least 200 m; (2) unvegetated, immediately adjacent to sparse mangroves; (3) unvegetated, immediately adjacent to dense mangroves; and (4) vegetated, with seagrass (Posidonia australis) throughout and in the vicinity. Gill netting caught 10 shark species (5 families), 5 ray species (4 families) and 12 teleost species (10 families). Carcharhinus cautus, which contributed approximately 60% to the numbers of elasmobranchs caught, completed its life cycle in nearshore, shallow waters. Negaprion acutidens, Carcharhinus brevipinna, Carcharhinus limbatus and Rhizoprionodon acutus used these waters as a nursery area. C. cautus was caught mainly in the unvegetated sites, particularly in those near mangroves. N. acutidens was caught entirely in unvegetated sites, while R. acutus, C. brevipinna and Chiloscyllium punctatum were caught predominantly or exclusively in seagrass. The mean number of species and mean catch rate of elasmobranchs were greatest for the seagrass site and least for the unvegetated site with no vegetation within at least 200 m and were significantly less for the latter site than for the unvegetated site immediately adjacent to dense mangroves (P<0.05). The numbers of species and catch rates of elasmobranchs were significantly greater in summer and autumn than in winter (P<0.05) and, in the case of number of species, also than in spring (P<0.05). We conclude that the spatial and food resources in the nearshore, shallow waters of Shark Bay are partitioned among elasmobranch species, thus reducing the potential for competition among these species for the resources in those waters.

Inter- and intraspecific variation in the distribution and number of pit organs (free neuromasts) of sharks and rays.

The distribution of pit organs (free neuromasts) has previously been documented for several species of pelagic sharks, but is relatively poorly known for rays and bottom-dwelling (demersal) sharks. In the present study, the complete distribution of pit organs was mapped in the demersal sharks Heterodontus portusjacksoni, Orectolobus maculatus, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, Chiloscyllium punctatum, and Asymbolus analis, and the rays Rhinobatos typus, Aptychotrema rostrata, Trygonorrhina sp. A, Raja sp. A, and Myliobatis australis. All of these species had pit organs scattered over the dorsolateral surface. The sharks also had "mandibular" pit organs (and "umbilical" pit organs in C. punctatum and A. analis) on the ventral surface, while pit organs were sparse or absent on the ventral surface of rays. All of the species examined here, except for M. australis, also had a "spiracular" group of pit organs adjacent to the eye and/or spiracle. Spiracular pit organs were also recorded for the sawshark Pristiophorus sp. A and the skate Pavoraja nitida, although the remainder of pit organs were not mapped in these species. The distribution and number of pit organs varied both within and among species. Pit organ distribution was asymmetrical in each individual examined, but no particular trend towards left or right "handedness" was observed in any species. Although rays have been thought to have fewer pit organs than sharks in general, this was not the case in the present study. All of the species examined here had few pit organs compared to the pelagic sharks previously documented, but it is not clear whether this is due to ecological or phylogenetic causes.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF YORKERIA (TETRAPHYLLIDEA: ONCHOBOTHRIIDAE) FROM CHILOSCYLLIUM PUNCTATUM (ELASMOBRANCHII: HEMISCYLLIIDAE) IN THAILAND

Two new species of the tapeworm genus Yorkeria are described from the spiral intestine of a specimen of the Brownbanded bambooshark, Chiloscyllium punctatum, collected from a fish market in Bangsarai, Thailand in 1996. The larger of the 2 new tapeworm species, Y. hilli, possesses fewer proglottids, fewer testes, and is smaller than most of its congeners. The smaller of the 2 new species, Y. kelleyae, conspicuously differs from all of its congeners in its possession of medial hooks that are only slightly larger than the lateral hooks (rather than conspicuously larger). Scanning electron microscopy shows both species to possess elongate filitriches on their distal prehook locular surfaces and elongate filitrichs and spinitrichs on their proximal bothridial, distal posthook locular surfaces, pedicels, and cephalic peduncles. In both species, the spinitrichs on the proximal bothridial surfaces, pedicels, and peduncles are very large and readily visible with light microscopy. Whereas the spinitrichs on these 4 surfaces are bluntly rounded in Y. hilli, they are pointed in Y. kelleyae. Examination of specimens identified as Y. parva, collected by several previous workers from a diversity of hosts and localities, calls into question the conspecificity of at least some of this material. The unusual scolex form suggests that the configuration of the cerebral ganglionic mass in species of Yorkeria may differ from that seen in most other tetraphyllidean taxa.

Function of the heterocercal tail in sharks: quantitative wake dynamics during steady horizontal swimming and vertical maneuvering.

The function of the heterocercal tail in sharks has long been debated in the literature. Previous kinematic data have supported the classical theory which proposes that the beating of the heterocercal caudal fin during steady horizontal locomotion pushes posteroventrally on the water, generating a reactive force directed anterodorsally and causing rotation around the center of mass. An alternative model suggests that the heterocercal shark tail functions to direct reaction forces through the center of mass. In this paper, we quantify the function of the tail in two species of shark and compare shark tail function with previous hydrodynamic data on the heterocercal tail of sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus. To address the two models of shark heterocercal tail function, we applied the technique of digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to quantify the wake of two species of shark swimming in a flow tank. Both steady horizontal locomotion and vertical maneuvering were analyzed. We used DPIV with both horizontal and vertical light sheet orientations to quantify patterns of wake velocity and vorticity behind the heterocercal tail of leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) and bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium punctatum) swimming at 1.0Ls(-1), where L is total body length. Two synchronized high-speed video cameras allowed simultaneous measurement of shark body position and wake structure. We measured the orientation of tail vortices shed into the wake and the orientation of the central jet through the core of these vortices relative to body orientation. Analysis of flow geometry indicates that the tail of both leopard and bamboo shark generates strongly tilted vortex rings with a mean jet angle of approximately 30 degrees below horizontal during steady horizontal swimming. The corresponding angle of the reaction force is much greater than body angle (mean 11 degrees ) and the angle of the path of motion of the center of mass (mean approximately 0 degrees ), thus strongly supporting the classical model of heterocercal tail function for steady horizontal locomotion. Vortex jet angle varies significantly with body angle changes during vertical maneuvering, but sharks show no evidence of active reorientation of jet angle relative to body angle, as was seen in a previous study on the function of sturgeon tail. Vortex jet orientation is significantly more inclined than the relatively horizontal jet generated by sturgeon tail vortex rings, demonstrating substantial differences in function in the heterocercal tails of sharks and sturgeon. We present a summary of forces on a swimming shark integrating data obtained here on the tail with previous data on pectoral fin and body function. Body orientation plays a critical role in the overall force balance and compensates for torques generated by the tail. The pectoral fins do not generate lift during steady horizontal locomotion, but play an important hydrodynamic role during vertical maneuvering.