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How does a chimaera’s gill opening differ from a shark’s gill clefts?
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chondrichthyan
Southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana or Hypanus americanus) are found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
In the context of the chondrichthyan class, the gill structures of sharks and chimaeras differ significantly in their external appearance:
- Sharks: Possess five to seven fully developed gill clefts that open separately to the exterior of the body.1
- Chimaeras: Feature only one external gill opening on each side of the head.1
While sharks typically utilize their mouths and spiracles to facilitate water flow over their gills, chimaeras primarily take in water through their nostrils, with the water reaching the mouth via grooves.23