Open AccessOccurrence of an Intersexual Pacific Spadenose Shark Scoliodon macrorhynchos from the Southern Taiwan Strait
Author(s) -
Zhao Yu,
Chen Mingru,
Jiang Chengpu,
Yang Shengyun,
Xiao Jiamei
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
marine and coastal fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 28
ISSN - 1942-5120
DOI - 10.1080/19425120.2017.1383326
Subject(s) - ovotestis , biology , zoology , pacific ocean , genus , anatomy , gonad , oceanography , geology
An intersexual specimen of Pacific Spadenose Shark Scoliodon macrorhynchos was found in the southern Taiwan Strait. It exhibited fully calcified claspers as well as bilateral ovotestes and reproductive tracts of both sexes. Histological analysis of its left ovotestis showed that it contained viable germ cells of both sexes, which allowed potential functionality as either sex physiologically. This specimen represents the first reported case of intersexuality in the genus Scoliodon and is also a rare record of intersexuality in elasmobranchs.