A common by-catch, normally recorded and thrown back to sea (dead or alive), Mel has asked for dead sharks to be kept for her to study further.
Dissection is an important way to understand the internal functioning of living things and I found it fascinating to compare the 2D image from the text book with the 3D object in front of us.
Spiny dogfish earned their name from the line of sharp spines along their backs, and because they attack other fish in dog-like packs. They have flattened heads and relatively large eyes, and grow to about 1.6 metres (Copied from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5315/spiny-dogfish)
The most incredible discovery was that of 9 baby sharks still attached to eggs inside the mother. She also had quite a few unfertilised eggs inside too!
I read that spiny dog fish have the longest gestation period of any animal - 24 months!
NoS
Understanding about science- gills, embryo
Investigating in science - dissection
Capability
Gather and interpret data - big stomach=pregnant
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