The skin of the shark is unique in many ways. It is characterised by its grey colour and the contrast between its slippery appearance and its rough tactile texture.
These teeth are what makes the shark feel rough and what has led to the use of shark skin as sandpaper. The skin is so rough, in fact, that softer animals brushing against it can be badly injured. These denticles’ spines point towards the tail, so the rough effect is best felt by moving one’s hand over the body from the tail to the head.
They are arranged in a mosaic pattern which surrounds the body of the shark like a helix. This acts as a supportive corset. Because the sharks have no skeletal bones, the muscles used for swimming are attached directly to the inside of this corset. This saves energy, allowing them to swim faster and further without tiring.
Shark skin is usually grey in colour, with the top of the body being darker than the underneath. This means that the shark’s body camouflages with the dark depths of the ocean when viewed from above as well as the lighter surface of the water when viewed from below.
Credit : Sharks info
Picture Credit : Google
