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Science 17 November 1978:
Vol. 202. no. 4369, pp. 747 - 749
DOI: 10.1126/science.202.4369.747
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Articles

Shark Skin: Function in Locomotion

S. A. WAINWRIGHT 1, F. VOSBURGH 1, and J. H. HEBRANK 1

1 Zoology Department, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27706 and Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516

Hydrostatic pressure under the skin of sharks varies with swimming speed. Stress in the skin varies with the internal pressure, and the skin stress controls skin stiffness. Locomotory muscles attach to the skin which is thus a whole-body exotendon whose mechanical advantage in transmitting muscular contraction is greater than that of the endoskeleton.

Submitted on March 13, 1978
Revised on May 31, 1978


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