| Title |
Pectoral Fin of the Megamouth Shark: Skeletal and Muscular Systems, Skin Histology, and Functional Morphology
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
PLOS ONE, January 2014
|
| DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0086205 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Taketeru Tomita, Sho Tanaka, Keiichi Sato, Kazuhiro Nakaya |
| Abstract |
This is the first known report on the skeletal and muscular systems, and the skin histology, of the pectoral fin of the rare planktivorous megamouth shark Megachasma pelagios. The pectoral fin is characterized by three features: 1) a large number of segments in the radial cartilages; 2) highly elastic pectoral fin skin; and 3) a vertically-rotated hinge joint at the pectoral fin base. These features suggest that the pectoral fin of the megamouth shark is remarkably flexible and mobile, and that this flexibility and mobility enhance dynamic lift control, thus allowing for stable swimming at slow speeds. The flexibility and mobility of the megamouth shark pectoral fin contrasts with that of fast-swimming sharks, such as Isurus oxyrhinchus and Lamna ditropis, in which the pectoral fin is stiff and relatively immobile. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 24 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 6 | 25% |
| Japan | 2 | 8% |
| Spain | 1 | 4% |
| Australia | 1 | 4% |
| Italy | 1 | 4% |
| Mexico | 1 | 4% |
| Thailand | 1 | 4% |
| Norway | 1 | 4% |
| Russia | 1 | 4% |
| Other | 2 | 8% |
| Unknown | 7 | 29% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 18 | 75% |
| Scientists | 4 | 17% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 8% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 45 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 44 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 13 | 29% |
| Student > Bachelor | 7 | 16% |
| Researcher | 6 | 13% |
| Student > Master | 5 | 11% |
| Professor | 1 | 2% |
| Other | 2 | 4% |
| Unknown | 11 | 24% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 19 | 42% |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 7% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 7% |
| Earth and Planetary Sciences | 3 | 7% |
| Sports and Recreations | 1 | 2% |
| Other | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 15 | 33% |