What evidence suggests that the evolution toward the great white's distinctive serrated teeth was driven by specific predation patterns?

Answer

The selection pressure favored serrations due to regular predation of marine mammals like seals and sea lions

The evolution toward the highly effective serrated tooth structure of *Carcharodon carcharias* appears directly linked to shifts in diet, specifically the increasing predation on marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. The fossil record shows that the ancestor, *Carcharodon hastalis*, possessed similarly shaped teeth but lacked these sharp serrations. As the ancient forms began frequently targeting the thick hide and flesh of marine mammals, there was strong natural selection pressure favoring mutations that resulted in coarser and more pronounced serrations. This adaptation provided superior carving ability, making it easier and more efficient to tear through tough mammalian tissue.

What evidence suggests that the evolution toward the great white's distinctive serrated teeth was driven by specific predation patterns?

Related Questions

What is the scientific name for the great white shark, noted as the world's largest actively predatory fish?What key physical feature defines the great white's coloration strategy known as countershading?Which specialized sensory organ, concentrating gel-filled sacs around the snout, detects faint electrical signals generated by living creatures?What characteristic of the great white's teeth, which number around 300 total, operates like a conveyor belt system for replacement?What primary reproductive classification describes the great white shark, where eggs hatch internally and pups develop using nourishment from a yolk sac and uterine secretion?What structural feature of the great white's massive jaws allows for an impressive gape of up to 150 degrees during a strike?What evidence suggests that the evolution toward the great white's distinctive serrated teeth was driven by specific predation patterns?How do great white sharks resolve conflicts over food resources when aggregating, utilizing a specific form of body language?What threat level is assigned to the European and Mediterranean populations of the great white shark by the IUCN, which is a worse outlook than the global listing?What hypothesis attempts to explain why most unprovoked great white bites result in the shark immediately releasing the human victim?
PredatoranimalfishsharkGreat White