Do sharks have bones?
Posted: January 2, 2009 Filed under: Sharks, Skates and Rays 6 Comments »No sharks do not have bones.
Sharks do have skeletons, but they’re made of cartilage rather than bone. Cartilage is the flexible stuff in the tip of your nose. A cartilage skeleton has its advantages. It’s light, flexible and it heals faster than bone. In some spots though, sharks need a little extra strength. Their skulls, jaws and spine are fortified with calcium salts, making them much thicker and stronger. Can you think of why a shark would need strong jaws, skulls and spines?
Jim Wharton
Vice President, Education Division, Director, Center for School and Public Programs, Mote Marine Laboratory
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