# Clasper

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Clasper
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Clasper.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clasper
> Source revision: 1316878460
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Male anatomical structure found in some groups of animals, used in mating

"Valva" redirects here. For other uses, see [Valva (disambiguation)](/source/Valva_(disambiguation)).

For the mathematics topic, see [Clasper (mathematics)](/source/Clasper_(mathematics)).

The claspers of a spotted [wobbegong](/source/Wobbegong) shark (*Orectolobus maculatus*)

The claspers of a young [spinner shark](/source/Spinner_shark) (*Carcharhinus brevipinna*)

Life restoration of the extinct chimaera *[Ischyodus](/source/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](/source/Biology), a **clasper** is a [male](/source/Male) anatomical structure found in some groups of animals, used in [mating](/source/Mating).

A close up view of a [chimaera](/source/Chimaera) clasper (*Hydrolagus collie*). Note the many small tooth-like projections covering the exterior surface.

Illustration of *[Harpagofututor](/source/Harpagofututor)* an extinct chimaera-relative in which males (below) had clasper structures on their heads

Male [cartilaginous fish](/source/Cartilaginous_fish) have claspers formed from the posterior portion of their [pelvic fin](/source/Pelvic_fin) which serve to channel [semen](/source/Semen) into the female's [cloaca](/source/Cloaca) during mating. The act of mating in some fish including [sharks](/source/Shark) usually includes one of the claspers raised to allow water into the siphon through a specific [orifice](/source/Body_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.[1][2] The claspers of many shark species have spines or hooks,[3] which may hold them in place during copulation.[4] Many male [holocephalans](/source/Holocephali), including living [chimaeras](/source/Chimaera), have cephalic claspers (tenacula) on their heads, which are thought to aid in holding the female during mating.[5]

In [entomology](/source/Entomology), it is a structure in male insects that is used to hold the female during [copulation](/source/Copulation_(zoology)) (see [Lepidoptera genitalia](/source/Lepidoptera_genitalia) for more).

## See also

- [Sexual coercion among animals](/source/Sexual_coercion_among_animals)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["System glossary"](http://www.fishbase.org/Glossary/Glossary.php?q=clasper&language=english&sc=is). *FishBase*. Retrieved 2013-02-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Heinicke, Matthew P.; Naylor, Gavin J. P.; Hedges, S. Blair (2009). [*The Timetree of Life: Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyes)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=9rt1c1hl49MC&q=Manta+birostris+fossil&pg=PA320). Oxford University Press. p. 320. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0191560156](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0191560156).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Compagno, Leonard J. V.; Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United (2001). [*Sharks of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date*](https://books.google.com/books?id=cxxSN4YA2i8C&q=clasper+OR+claspers). Food & Agriculture Org. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-92-5-104543-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-92-5-104543-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Klimley, A. Peter; Ainley, David G. (1998-04-03). [*Great White Sharks: The Biology of Carcharodon carcharias*](https://books.google.com/books?id=2My8M5tL-KIC&q=clasper). Academic Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-08-053260-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-08-053260-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_5-0)** Stahl, Barbara (1999). *Handbook of Paleoichthyology Volume 4 • Chondrichthyes III • Holocephali*. pp. 29–30.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Clasper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clasper) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clasper?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.