the anatomy of shark is more uniform between species than for teleosts. A ventral mid-line approach exposes the abdominal and pericardial cavities. the skeleton, due to a lack of mineralisation, is relatively easily incised. the male is easily identified by the present of claspers ventrally near cloaca. The claspers are an erectile organ modified from the inner edge of the pelvic fins, that are used to transfer sperm to the female during copulation.