From an anatomical point of view, how many bones are present in the body of a great white shark?

Introduction / Context:
Sharks are fascinating animals that are often misunderstood. Many people imagine sharks as bony creatures similar to other fishes. In reality, sharks belong to a special group of fishes with skeletons made of cartilage instead of true bone. This question highlights that difference by asking how many bones a great white shark has.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The great white shark is a typical example of a cartilaginous fish.
• The term bone refers to hard calcified skeletal tissue found in bony fishes and vertebrates such as mammals.
• Cartilage is a firm but more flexible connective tissue.

Concept / Approach:
Fishes can be broadly divided into bony fishes and cartilaginous fishes. Bony fishes have skeletons made largely of bone. Sharks, rays and skates belong to cartilaginous fishes, whose skeletons are made almost entirely of cartilage. Great white sharks, like other sharks, lack true bones as found in humans or typical bony fishes. Instead, their skeleton is cartilaginous, which is lighter and well suited to fast swimming.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Classify the great white shark as a cartilaginous fish. Step 2: Recall that cartilaginous fishes have skeletons composed of cartilage rather than bone tissue. Step 3: Note that in biology, bones are defined as calcified rigid structures, not cartilage. Step 4: Therefore, in terms of true bones, the number in a great white shark is zero. Step 5: Match this understanding with the option that states there are 0 bones.

Verification / Alternative check:
Anatomy references describe the class Chondrichthyes, which includes sharks and rays. Chondros means cartilage. The defining feature of this class is a skeleton made of cartilage. While some parts may become slightly calcified with age, they are still not true bone in the strict anatomical sense. This supports the statement that a great white shark has no bones.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options b, c and d suggest that the shark has 1, 2 or 4 bones, but there is no reason to single out such small numbers, because the entire skeleton is cartilaginous. These options do not match the basic classification of sharks and are incorrect in standard biology.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that all vertebrates must have bony skeletons. Another pitfall is informal speech where any hard structure is casually called a bone. In exams, it is important to use the strict biological definition, which clearly distinguishes cartilage from bone. Remembering the name Chondrichthyes as the group of cartilaginous fishes helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:
A great white shark has 0 bones because its entire skeleton is made of cartilage rather than true bone.