For weeks, it was difficult to determine whether the rapidly growing creature would become a chicken, a fish, a frog, or even a human.
Then, out of nowhere: the hammer.
In an unprecedented study of the most peculiar and fascinating creatures in the ocean, scientists from the University of Florida have documented how hammerhead sharks manipulate and distort their skulls to resemble hammers.
“This provides a glimpse into the formation of monsters,” said Gareth Fraser, a biology professor at UF who supervised the study. “It offers insight into the development of a natural wonder that has never been witnessed before and may never be witnessed again.”
In a series of remarkable images, the study reveals that bonnethead shark embryos, measuring two inches in length, suddenly widen their heads during the middle stage of gestation. The growing skull causes their still-developing eyes to protrude at unusual angles. Over the following weeks, the front of the skull takes on a rounded shape as it moves backward towards the gills, ultimately forming the distinctive shovel-like structure.
During their development, baby bonnetheads undergo a sudden transformation, sprouting the characteristic hammerhead feature, which continues to mature as they grow. Credit: Gareth Fraser
2023-09-28 22:00:04
Article from phys.org