Sharks use highly sensitive electroreceptors to detect the electric fields emitted by potential prey. However, it is not known whether prey animals are able to modulate their own bioelectrical signals to reduce predation risk. Here, we show that some shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) embryos can detect predator-mimicking electric fields and respond by ceasing their respiratory gill movements. Des...

The neural crest is a population of mesenchymal cells that after migrating from the neural tube gives rise to structure and cell types: the jaw, part of the peripheral ganglia, and melanocytes. Although much is known about neural crest development in jawed vertebrates, a clear picture of trunk neural crest development for elasmobranchs is yet to be developed. Here we present a detailed study of...

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 correlati...

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 differe...

The development of the visual system in anamniotic vertebrates is a continual process, allowing for ontogenetic changes in retinal topography and spatial resolving power. We examined the number and distribution of retinal ganglion cells in wholemounted retinae throughout the protracted embryonic development (∼5 months) of a chondrichthyan, i.e. the brown-banded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium puncta...

1 2 The development of the visual system in anamniotic vertebrates is a continual process, 3 allowing for ontogenetic changes in retinal topography and spatial resolving power. We 4 examine the number and distribution of retinal ganglion cells in wholemounted retinae 5 throughout the protracted embryonic development (approx. five months) of a chondrichthyan, 6 the brown banded bamboo shark, Chi...