Comparative morphology of the electrosensory system of the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum and brown‐banded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium punctatum

Abstract

We compared the electrosensory system of two benthic elasmobranchs Hemiscyllium ocellatum and Chiloscyllium punctatum . The distribution of the ampullary pores on the head was similar for both species, with a higher density of pores anteriorly and a lower density posteriorly, although C. punctatum generally possessed larger pores. Ampullary canals of the mandibular cluster were quasi‐sinusoidal in H. ocellatum , a shape previously found in benthic rays only, whereas ampullary canals in C. punctatum were of a linear morphology as reported for many shark and ray species previously. The ampullae proper were of the lobular type, as occurs in most galean sharks. Chiloscyllium punctatum had six sensory chambers compared with the five per ampulla in H. ocellatum , which were generally smaller than those of C. punctatum . The sensory epithelium comprised flattened receptor cells, compared with the usual pear‐shaped receptor cells encountered in other elasmobranchs and their apically nucleated supportive cells did not protrude markedly into the ampullary lumen, unlike those in benthic rays.

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