Common PNW fish, uncommon feature: teeth on its forehead
Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Washington published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on the spotted ratfish, sometimes called a ghost shark.
It’s one of the most common fish you’ll find in the Puget Sound and it has teeth in an unexpected place. The study’s authors say that, not only is this unusual, but it also tells us something very interesting about evolution.
GUEST:
Karly Cohen, post-doctoral researcher at Friday Harbor Labs
RELATED LINKS:
PNAS: Teeth outside the jaw: Evolution and development of the toothed head clasper in chimaeras
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Smithsonian: This Deep-Sea Fish Has Teeth on Its Forehead—and It Uses Them for Sex
University of Washington: This common fish has an uncommon feature: Forehead teeth, used for mating
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Hans Anderson
Producer, Soundside
Hans Anderson is a producer on KUOW’s Soundside, where he covers a diverse range of topics from conflicts over how to use busy streets to how the open spaces of the Palouse inspire modern musical compositions. He primarily produces segments about politics, arts and transportation.
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