What biological term describes the white shark's dark dorsal and white ventral surfaces?
Answer
Countershading
The distinctive coloration of the great white shark, featuring a dark dorsal side and a starkly white ventral side, is a classic and superb example of countershading in marine biology. This dual-tone patterning functions as a passive form of camouflage designed to break up the shark's outline when viewed in the water. When observed from above, the dark back blends with the darker, deeper ocean water below. Conversely, when potential prey, such as a seal or sea lion, looks up from beneath the shark, the white belly matches the brighter, sunlit water near the surface, effectively concealing the predator.
Related Questions
What is statistically more likely to be the larger individual encountered in white shark feeding grounds?What shape describes the streamlined silhouette of the white shark minimizing drag?How is the white shark's caudal fin typically structured regarding lobe size?What biological term describes the white shark's dark dorsal and white ventral surfaces?How many gill slits are present on each side of the white shark's head?How are the white shark's teeth anchored in the jaw structure?What specific electrical fields do the Ampullae of Lorenzini detect in prey?What is the protective inner eyelid called that shields the white shark's eye during impact?What material constitutes the entire skeletal structure of the white shark?Which statement accurately reflects the size difference between male and female white sharks?