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How do sharks and rays reproduce?
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Vertebrate
The major groups of vertebrates include fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Sharks and rays, which are cartilaginous fishes, utilize internal fertilization to reproduce. Males are equipped with two copulatory organs known as claspers, which guide sperm into the female's cloaca and oviduct.12
Depending on the species, these animals follow one of three reproductive strategies:
- Oviparous (Egg-laying): Some sharks, all skates, and all chimaeras lay large, yolk-rich eggs encased in protective, horny shells. These shells often feature tendrils or spikes to anchor them to the environment while the embryo develops.1
- Ovoviviparous: The majority of sharks and rays retain their eggs within the mother’s body until they hatch. The embryos are nourished by a yolk sac, though some species provide additional nutrients through uterine secretions or by having the embryos consume other eggs or siblings within the oviduct.1
- Viviparous: Certain shark species give birth to live young through a direct tissue connection. These species develop a yolk-sac placenta that facilitates the transfer of nutrients from the mother to the developing embryo.12