Week 3 comparisons

1. Dorsal Fins on shark vs. orca

Sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, Great whites average 12-16 feet long (3.7-4.9 m) long, weighing about 5,000 pounds. The dorsal fin of a white shark contain dermal fibers that work "like riggings that stabilize a ship's mast", and stiffen dynamically as the shark swims faster to control roll and yaw. The bony or cartilaginous bones that support the base of the dorsal fin in fish are called pterygiophores. The primary hydrodynamic function of this fin is stabilization, preventing the shark's body from rolling uncontrollably and to assist in sudden turns, the dorsal fin is broadly triangular with a short free rear tip and muscular base.

Killer whales are the largest extant members of the dolphin family. Males typically range from 6 to 8 meters. The dorsal fin is tall and triangular. Reaching a height of up to 1.8 m (6 ft.) in a large adult male, it is the tallest dorsal fin of all cetacean. Like the flukes, the dorsal fin is made of dense, fibrous connective tissue, without bones or cartilage. Like the keel of a boat, the dorsal fin may help stabilize a killer whale as it swims at high speeds, but a fin is not essential to a whale’s balance. As in the flukes and the flippers, arteries in the dorsal fin are surrounded by veins to help maintain body temperature.

. Dorsal Fins on shark vs. orca

Sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, Great whites average 12-16 feet long (3.7-4.9 m) long, weighing about 5,000 pounds. The dorsal fin of a white shark contain dermal fibers that work "like riggings that stabilize a ship's mast", and stiffen dynamically as the shark swims faster to control roll and yaw. The bony or cartilaginous bones that support the base of the dorsal fin in fish are called pterygiophores. The primary hydrodynamic function of this fin is stabilization, preventing the shark's body from rolling uncontrollably and to assist in sudden turns, the dorsal fin isbroadly triangular with a short free rear tip and muscular base.

Killer whales are the largest extant members of the dolphin family. Males typically range from 6 to 8 meters. The dorsal fin is tall and triangular. Reaching a height of up to 1.8 m (6 ft.) in a large adult male, it is the tallest dorsal fin of all cetacean. Like the flukes, the dorsal fin is made of dense, fibrous connective tissue, without bones or cartilage. Like the keel of a boat, the dorsal fin may help stabilize a killer whale as it swims at high speeds, but a fin is not essential to a whale’s balance. As in the flukes and the flippers, arteries in the dorsal fin are surrounded by veins to help maintain body tempature.

                                                            Great White Dorsal fin

2. Human hand vs. dog paw.

 A comparison between a generic four-legged animal, and a human standing on his toes and fingertips.

The bone structure is almost the same. The hand is the multi-fingered extremity at the end of the arm.  It is one means of which humans have changed the world by creating many accomplishments.

The digital and metacarpal pads of a dog paw work as shock absorber s and help protect the bones and joints in the foot. The carpal pads work like brakes, of sorts, and help the dog navigate slippery or steep slopes. Meanwhile, as the paw gets cold when it hits the ground, arteries transfer the chilled blood back to the body where it warms up again. Because of these traits, scientists believe that domestic dogs first evolved in colder environments before spreading out into other climates. The pads also help the dog distinguish between different types of terrain.

                                                  Dog Paw               Human Hand