Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale

ABSTRACT Previous studies have described two distinct vascular systems in cetacean fins. However, these studies have been limited to Delphinoidea species, with little information on their three‐dimensional structures. In this study, the anatomical analysis of the caudal and dorsal fins of a dwarf sp...

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Main Authors: Taro Okamura, Ashley R. Smith, Tomoyuki Mikami, Futaba Nishimura, Chika Shirakata, Kensuke Yasui, Shuichi Asakawa, Ken Yoda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70727
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author Taro Okamura
Ashley R. Smith
Tomoyuki Mikami
Futaba Nishimura
Chika Shirakata
Kensuke Yasui
Shuichi Asakawa
Ken Yoda
author_facet Taro Okamura
Ashley R. Smith
Tomoyuki Mikami
Futaba Nishimura
Chika Shirakata
Kensuke Yasui
Shuichi Asakawa
Ken Yoda
author_sort Taro Okamura
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Previous studies have described two distinct vascular systems in cetacean fins. However, these studies have been limited to Delphinoidea species, with little information on their three‐dimensional structures. In this study, the anatomical analysis of the caudal and dorsal fins of a dwarf sperm whale was conducted using X‐ray computed tomography and gross dissection with staining, providing the first confirmation of the two vascular systems in the fins of the family Kogiidae. This finding suggested that these vascular systems are common across Odontoceti species. In addition, we observed unique three‐dimensional structures in the superficial veins, which formed a reticulate pattern in both fins and converged at the centerline at the base of the dorsal fin, potentially influencing individual's heat reduction capabilities.
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spelling doaj-art-5a0e68d3ceeb433386ff240c9513b2ee2025-08-20T02:56:02ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-12-011412n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70727Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm WhaleTaro Okamura0Ashley R. Smith1Tomoyuki Mikami2Futaba Nishimura3Chika Shirakata4Kensuke Yasui5Shuichi Asakawa6Ken Yoda7Graduate School of Environmental Studies Nagoya University Nagoya JapanGraduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo JapanDepartment of Geology and Paleontology National Museum of Nature and Science Tsukuba JapanKanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History Odawara JapanEnoshima Aquarium Fujisawa JapanToyohashi Museum of Natural History Toyohashi JapanGraduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo JapanGraduate School of Environmental Studies Nagoya University Nagoya JapanABSTRACT Previous studies have described two distinct vascular systems in cetacean fins. However, these studies have been limited to Delphinoidea species, with little information on their three‐dimensional structures. In this study, the anatomical analysis of the caudal and dorsal fins of a dwarf sperm whale was conducted using X‐ray computed tomography and gross dissection with staining, providing the first confirmation of the two vascular systems in the fins of the family Kogiidae. This finding suggested that these vascular systems are common across Odontoceti species. In addition, we observed unique three‐dimensional structures in the superficial veins, which formed a reticulate pattern in both fins and converged at the centerline at the base of the dorsal fin, potentially influencing individual's heat reduction capabilities.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70727CTdwarf sperm whalefinvascular structure
spellingShingle Taro Okamura
Ashley R. Smith
Tomoyuki Mikami
Futaba Nishimura
Chika Shirakata
Kensuke Yasui
Shuichi Asakawa
Ken Yoda
Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
Ecology and Evolution
CT
dwarf sperm whale
fin
vascular structure
title Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
title_full Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
title_fullStr Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
title_full_unstemmed Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
title_short Three‐Dimensional Vascular Structure of Caudal and Dorsal Fins of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
title_sort three dimensional vascular structure of caudal and dorsal fins of a dwarf sperm whale
topic CT
dwarf sperm whale
fin
vascular structure
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70727
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