All articles tagged with #chimaeras
Scientists studied the unique mating adaptation of ratfish (chimaeras), which use a fleshy, tooth-studded appendage on their forehead called a tenaculum to grip females during reproduction, a feature that is highly unusual in the animal kingdom.
A study reveals that male ghost sharks have a unique forehead appendage called a tenaculum, covered in rows of teeth similar to those in their mouths, which is likely used for mating. This structure demonstrates the evolutionary reuse of oral teeth development for reproductive purposes, highlighting the remarkable adaptability of tooth formation in deep-sea fish.
Yellow crazy ants are the first known animal for which chimaerism is an essential aspect of life, according to a study published in Science. Males of the species are a mixture of two warring cell lineages, which is usually a developmental accident. The chimaerism has a crucial role in the ants’ caste system, contributing to the species' ability to evade ecosystems. The discovery raises questions about why the nuclei of some sperm fail to fuse with the egg nucleus, resulting in chimaeric males.