Malaysian Shark with “Webbed Feet”

Underwatertimes.com image of shark claspers [150x200, 6.6K]

The Underwatertimes has an article that purports to show a baby shark with webbed feet. Looks more like the myxopterygia (i.e., claspers, intromittent organs, valva) of an adult reef shark.

myxopterygium (mix-op-ter-ridge-ee-um): The copulatory organ or clasper of Elasmobranchii and Holocephali; rod-like extensions of the inner side of the pelvic fins. It is composed of the long stem cartilage, a shorter distal cartilage, the dorsal terminal cartilage (or rhipidion, fan-shaped for dispersing sperm in a radiating spray during copulation), the hook-shaped terminal cartilage (or claw) which has a cutting edge on its inner margin, and the narrow, sharp spur. The claw and spur serve to anchor the clasper in the female oviduct and a groove along the clasper enables the sperm to reach the oviduct. The siphon contracts to propel sperm into the oviduct.

So basically, this shark died with an erection.

1 Response to “Malaysian Shark with “Webbed Feet””


  1. 1 Jason

    Seems this story has legs and got picked up again on digg.

  1. 1 Cephalopodcast.com - The Ocean Podcast

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