Science & Technology Faculty Perform Necropsy of Thresher Shark
Thursday, March 13th, a team of
scientists organized by Dr. David McKee and Dr. David Moury, Faculty in
the Department of Life Sciences in Texas A&M Corpus Christi's College
of Science & Technology, performed a necropsy on a 9 ft. common
thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) found on the beach of Padre Island National Seashore. Dr. Tim Tristan (an exotic animal veterinarian) and Dr. Scott Nuñez (a faculty member at The U.T. Marine Science Institute) were also part of the necropsy team. Students on the team assisted with photography, recording data, and preserving specimens. Members of the public (including many A&M-Corpus Christi students) watched the dissection as Dr. McKee explained the natural history of the shark and other members of the team pointed out various structural and functional aspects.
Dr. McKee, an ichthyologist, focuses on marine species in Corpus Christi’s coastal areas. Dr. Moury, an anatomist, examines the structure, evolution, and development of local vertebrates. Both professors will use data and specimens collected from this shark in their research and teaching. Unusual finds like this shark allow the faculty to collaborate with colleagues. Some preserved organs were distributed to researchers at other institutions for analysis of tissues, DNA, and parasites.
Thursday, March 13th, a team of
scientists organized by Dr. David McKee and Dr. David Moury, Faculty in
the Department of Life Sciences in Texas A&M Corpus Christi's College
of Science & Technology, performed a necropsy on a 9 ft. common
thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) found on the beach of Padre Island National Seashore. Dr. Tim Tristan (an exotic animal veterinarian) and Dr. Scott Nuñez (a faculty member at The U.T. Marine Science Institute) were also part of the necropsy team. Students on the team assisted with photography, recording data, and preserving specimens. Members of the public (including many A&M-Corpus Christi students) watched the dissection as Dr. McKee explained the natural history of the shark and other members of the team pointed out various structural and functional aspects.