Ocean acidification could degrade sharks’ tough skin

Exposure to pH levels projected for 2300 damaged the denticles that make up sharkskin

puffadder shyshark

A puffadder shyshark swims just above the ocean floor. These cat sharks, native to the South African coast, can adapt their internal physiology to more acidified waters, a small experiment shows, but their toothlike skin experienced some corrosion.

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The tough, toothy skin of sharks may be no match for the acidified oceans of the future.