��������

Florida Atlantic University researchers have revealed the hidden architecture inside shark spines, uncovering how these ancient predators evolved skeletons uniquely adapted for speed and agility. Published in the Journal of Anatomy, the study used high-resolution micro-CT imaging to examine and quantify the internal structures and shape of vertebrae from six shark species, revealing that their spines are highly specialized biomechanical systems designed to balance strength, flexibility and swimming efficiency.

The findings show that fast-swimming sharks have highly mineralized vertebral structures that help transfer energy to the tail, while other species have evolved less mineral for more flexible designs to support maneuverability or specialized movements. The study provides new insight into how evolution has shaped shark swimming performance and reveals how these natural designs could inspire future advances in engineering and biomimetic technologies.

“High-resolution micro-CT imaging gave us a window into the hidden world inside shark vertebrae, allowing us to see structures that have evolved over hundreds of millions of years to support these incredible swimmers,” said Jamie Knaub, first author, research specialist at �������� Laboratory Schools and a Ph.D. candidate in the �������� Department of Biology within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

Read the press release.