What specific change occurs to the third upper lateral tooth in maturing male white sharks?
Answer
It angles backward to better grip females during mating
Tooth morphology in great white sharks is subject to changes influenced by development and maturity. While the triangular, serrated shape is primarily designed for cutting and tearing flesh, a specialized change occurs specifically in mature males that appears related to reproductive behavior rather than primary diet acquisition. The third upper lateral tooth in males begins to angle backward as they reach sexual maturity. This morphological alteration is hypothesized to serve a functional role in aiding the male to grip the female shark effectively during the act of copulation.
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