Shark gills are located on the sides of their heads, and they have between 5 and 7 gill slits. The gills are used to take in oxygen from the surrounding water, and they do not have gill covers like bony fish do. Water must constantly flow across the gills in order for them to be able to take in oxygen, so sharks must keep moving in order for their gills to remain functional.
Where is gills sharks located?
Gills in sharks are located on both sides of their head, behind their eyes. They consist of five to seven pairs of slits which allow water to flow over the gills, allowing them to extract oxygen from the water. The gill slits are typically covered by a flap which can open and close, allowing the shark to control the amount of water that flows over the gills.
Do sharks have gills or lungs?
Sharks do not have lungs, but instead have gills which allow them to extract oxygen from the water. Gills are made up of thin membranes that allow oxygen from the water to diffuse into the bloodstream, while at the same time expelling carbon dioxide. Sharks also have a special organ called the ‘spiracle’ which acts like a valve that allows the shark to take in water and oxygenate blood when necessary.
Are sharks gills exposed or covered?
Sharks have gills that are exposed, meaning they are not covered by a protective bony covering. The gills are formed by multiple gill arches, which lack a single outer covering. As the shark swims, water passes over the exposed gills, allowing oxygen to be taken in and carbon dioxide to be released.
What sharks have gills?
Most sharks have five pairs of gills located on the sides of their head. Examples of sharks with this number of gills include the great white shark, the lemon shark, the bull shark, and the tiger shark. However, some species of sharks have more than five gill pairs, such as the frilled shark, which has six pairs, and the megamouth shark, which has seven pairs.