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Clasper
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{{Short description|Male anatomical structure found in some groups of animals, used in mating}}{{redir|Valva}} {{for|the mathematics topic|Clasper (mathematics)}} [[File:Wobbegong claspers.jpg|thumb|The claspers of a spotted [[wobbegong]] shark (''Orectolobus maculatus'')]] [[File:Carcharhinus brevipinna JNC3077 Male parts.JPG|thumb|The claspers of a young [[spinner shark]] (''Carcharhinus brevipinna'')]] [[File:Ischyodus quenstedti or egertoni.png|thumb|Life restoration of the extinct chimaera ''[[Ischyodus]]'', showing the presence of a cephalic clasper on the head of males (as well as a pelvic clasper) but absent in females ]] In [[biology]], a '''clasper''' is a [[male]] anatomical structure found in some groups of animals, used in [[mating]]. [[File:Spotted Ratfish Clasper.png|thumb|300x300px|A close up view of a [[chimaera]] clasper (''Hydrolagus collie''). Note the many small tooth-like projections covering the exterior surface.]] [[File:Harpagofututor volsellorhinus.png|thumb|Illustration of ''[[Harpagofututor]]'' an extinct chimaera-relative in which males (below) had clasper structures on their heads]] Male [[cartilaginous fish]] have claspers formed from the posterior portion of their [[pelvic fin]] which serve to channel [[semen]] into the female's [[cloaca]] during mating. The act of mating in some fish including [[shark]]s usually includes one of the claspers raised to allow water into the siphon through a specific [[Body orifice|orifice]]. The clasper is then inserted into the cloaca, where it opens like an umbrella to anchor its position. The siphon then begins to contract, expelling water and sperm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fishbase.org/Glossary/Glossary.php?q=clasper&language=english&sc=is |title=System glossary |work=FishBase |access-date=2013-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Timetree of Life: Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyes) |last1=Heinicke |first1=Matthew P. |last2=Naylor |first2=Gavin J. P. |last3=Hedges |first3=S. Blair |year=2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0191560156 |page=320 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9rt1c1hl49MC&q=Manta+birostris+fossil&pg=PA320 }}</ref> The claspers of many shark species have spines or hooks,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Compagno|first1=Leonard J. V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cxxSN4YA2i8C&q=clasper+OR+claspers|title=Sharks of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date|last2=Nations|first2=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United|date=2001|publisher=Food & Agriculture Org.|isbn=978-92-5-104543-5|language=en}}</ref> which may hold them in place during copulation.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Klimley|first1=A. Peter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2My8M5tL-KIC&q=clasper|title=Great White Sharks: The Biology of Carcharodon carcharias|last2=Ainley|first2=David G.|date=1998-04-03|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-08-053260-8|language=en}}</ref> Many male [[Holocephali|holocephalans]], including living [[chimaera]]s, have cephalic claspers (tenacula) on their heads, which are thought to aid in holding the female during mating.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Stahl |first=Barbara |title=Handbook of Paleoichthyology Volume 4 β’ Chondrichthyes III β’ Holocephali |date=1999 |pages=29-30}}</ref> In [[entomology]], it is a structure in male insects that is used to hold the female during [[copulation (zoology)|copulation]] (see [[Lepidoptera genitalia]] for more). ==See also== *[[Sexual coercion among animals]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Fish anatomy]] [[Category:Insect anatomy]] [[Category:Animal reproductive system]]
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