World’s biggest shark found to have ‘armored eyes’ lined with nearly 3,000 TEETH
World's biggest shark is found to have 'armored eyes' lined with nearly 3,000 TEETH that protect its vision because the species lacks eyelidsUsing ultrasounds, a team found whale sharks have teeth lining their eyesNearly 3,000 teeth were found on each eye that protect its visionThe whale shark can also retract 50 percent of its eye into the socket These findings contradict previous ideas that it does not rely heavily on vision By Stacy Liberatore For Dailymail.com
Published: 23:30 BST, 30 June 2020 | Updated: 23:33 BST, 30 June 2020
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The world's largest shark has thousands of teeth surrounding each of its eyes that act like armor.
Marine biologist from Japan discovered the dermal denticles lining the outer surface of the membrane and each has some 3,000 teeth around it.
Because whale sharks do not have eyelids, the rows of 'oak leaf-like' structures protect their eyes, which contradicts theories that this species does not rely heavily on its vision.
Along with the dermal denticles, researchers also demonstrated that the whale shark has the ability to retract about 50 percent of its eyeball into the socket.
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The world's largest shark has thousands of teeth surrounding each of its eyes that act like armor. The eyes are located on the side of the shark's square-like head (picture A)
A team from Japan's Okinawa Churashima Research Center examined both living and dead whale sharks from aquariums in Japan and the US.
Whale sharks are the largest of their kind, as they can grow as large as 59 feet long.
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Although massive, they are harmless to humans and feed on plankton and some types of fish.
These sharks do not have eyelids and their eyes are positioned at the corner of their heads, which lea..