Table of Contents

Enchanted Learning All About Sharks!

Geologic Time Chart

SHARK ANATOMY

Sharks and rays have very large and complex brains. Little is known about these brains. Sharks's brains to body mass ratio is higher than most other fish and is comparable to many other vertebrates, including some mammals.

Brain size and complexity vary from shark species to species. The sharks with the largest brain:body weight ratio are active sharks like the dusky shark and the scalloped hammerheads. The sluggish bottom-dwellers (like angelsharks) have relatively smaller, less complex brains.

A partial list of functions: the cerebellum is in charge of body movement; the hindbrain processes most sensory information and moves the head; the tectum integrates sensory information; the olfactory lobes are for the sense of smell; the diencephalon regulates hormones and some behaviors; the forebrain coordinates sensory information.

Enchanted Learning^®
Over 35,000 Web Pages
Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below

Click to read our Privacy Policy

E-mail

Busy Little Brains CD-ROM