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  5. Taketeru Tomita
Okinawa Churashima Foundation RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Research on marine organisms

Research staff profile

Taketeru Tomita

Taketeru Tomita

(Chief Research Scientist)

Area of
expertise		 Biology of chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, batoids and chimaeras)
Research
content		 Functional morphology and evolutionary biology of chondrichthyan fishes

Background

  • 2015–Present – Research Scientist at the Okinawa Churashima Research Institute
  • 2015–2015 – JSPS Postdoctoral fellow at Florida State University
  • 2014–2015 – Research fellow at Hokkaido University Museum
  • 2011–2013 – Research fellow at University of California, Davis
  • 2011–2014 – JSPS Postdoctoral fellow at Hokkaido University
  • 2011 – Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo, Japan
  • 2009 – Visiting student at University of California, Davis
  • 2008 – Earth and planetary science (M.Sc.) at the University of Tokyo, Japan

Committee Career

  • 2015–Present: Editor, Report of Japanese Society for Elasmobranch Studies

Research papers, publications

  • Tomita T, Toda M, Kaneko A, Murakumo K, Miyamoto K, Sato K. 2024. One-year extra-uterine life support for viviparous shark embryos: first technological application to mid-term embryos. Frontiers in Fish Science. 2.
    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frish.2024.1352871/full
  • Tomita T, Yabumoto Y, Kuga N. 2023. A new snaggletooth shark species, Hemipristis tanakai sp. nov., from the Ashiya Group (Oligocene), Northern Kyushu, Japan. Paleontological Research. 28:273-278.
  • Sternes PC, Jambura PL, Türtscher J, Kriwet J, Siversson M, Feichtinger I, Naylor GJP, Summers AP, Maisey JG, Tomita T, et al. 2023. White shark comparison reveals a slender body for the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae) Palaeontologia Electronica. 27(1).
    https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2024/5079-megalodon-body-form
  • Omura A, Takano H, Tomita T, Yamaguchi T, Oka S. 2023. Ventral adhesive area in the limbs of walking cuttlefish (paintpot cuttlefish, Ascarosepion tullbergi): An adaptation for stable aquatic locomotion. Acta Zoologica.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Kaneko A, Murakumo K, Miyamoto K, Sato K. 2023. Successful delivery of viviparous lantern shark from an artificial uterus and the self-production of lantern shark luciferin. PLOS ONE. 18(9) e0291224.
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291224
  • Oka S, Nozu R, Miyamoto K, Tomita T, Hanahara N, Yamauchi C, Sasai T, Nakamura M. 2023. A trial to control invasive Mozambique tilapia populations using the sterile-male release technique in the artificial ponds on Okinawa. The Biological Magazine Okinawa 61:1-12.
  • Tomita T, Murakumo K, Matsumoto R. 2023. Narrowing, twisting, and undulating: Complicated movement in shark spiral intestine inferred using ultrasound. Zoology 126077
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Fukugawa Y, Sasai T, Murakumo K. 2022. Fluorescent cacao oil: A material suited for highlighting blood vessel in macro-scale dissection. MethodsX.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122000954
  • Türtscher J, Jambura PL, López-Romero FA, Kindlimann R, Sato K, Tomita T, Kriwet J. 2022. Heterodonty and ontogenetic shift dynamics in the dentition of the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier (Chondrichthyes, Galeocerdidae). Journal of Anatomy.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Murakumo K, Kaneko A, Yano N, Nakamura M, Sato K. 2022. Five-month Incubation of viviparous deep-water shark embryos in artificial uterine fluid. Frontiers in Marine Science 9:825354.
    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.825354/full
  • Tomita T, Nakamura M, Nozu R, Ogawa N, Toda M, Sato K. 2022. Mode of uterine milk secretion in the white shark. The Anatomical Record.
  • Tomita T, Nakamura M, Miyamoto K, Nozu R, Toda M, Murakumo K, Sato K. 2021. Clasper pocket: adaptation of a novel morphological feature by lamnoid sharks, which aids with tuna-like swimming. Zoomorphology. 140:365-71.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Murakumo K, Miyamoto K, Matsumoto R, Ueda K, Sato K. 2021. Volume of the whale shark and their mechanism of vertical feeding. Zoology. 2021 147:125932.
  • Kitayama C, Ueda K, Omata M, Tomita T, Fukada S, Murakami S, Tanaka Y, Kaji A, Kondo S, Suganuma H, Aiko Y, Fujimoto A, Kawai Y, Yanagawa M, Kondoh D. 2021. Morphological features of the nasal cavities of hawksbill, olive ridley, and black sea turtles: Comparative studies with green, loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles.
    PlOS ONE. 16: e0250873.
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250873
  • Ogimoto K, Sonoyama T, Shindo H, Tomita T. 2021. Iris-like eye closure of the fine-patterned pufferfish, Takifugu flavipterus. Zoology. 145: 125894.
  • Duchatelet L, Moris V. C, Tomita T, Mahillon J, Sato K, Behets C, Mallefet J. 2020. The megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, is not a luminous species. PLOS ONE. 15: e0242196.
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0242196
  • Tomita T, Murakumo K, Komoto S, Dove A, Kino M, Miyamoto K, Toda M. 2020. Armored eyes of the whale shark. PLOS ONE. 15: e0235342. (This paper was selected as one of twenty “PLOS ONE Editor’s Picks 2020”)
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235342
  • Tomita T, Nakamura M, Kobayashi Y, Yoshinaka A, Murakumo K. 2020. Viviparous stingrays avoid contamination of the embryonic environment through faecal accumulation mechanisms. Scientific Reports. 10: 7378.
    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-64271-2
  • Murakumo K, Matsumoto R, Tomita T, Matsumoto Y, Ueda K. 2020. The power of ultrasound: Observation of nearly the entire gestation and embryonic developmental process of captive reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi). Fisheries Bulletin. 118: 1-7.
    https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/content/fishery-bulletin/power-ultrasound-observation-nearly-entire-gestation-and-embryonic
  • Acharya G, Bartolomei M, Carter A. M, Chamley L, Cotton C. F, Hasegawa J, Hasegawa Y, Hayakawa S, Kawaguchi M, Konwar C, Magawa S, Miura K, Nishi H, Salomon C, Sato K, Soejima H, Soma H, Sørensen A, Takahashi H, Tomita T, Whittington C. M, Yuan V, O'Tierney-Ginn P. 2019. IFPA meeting 2018 workshop report I: Reproduction and placentation among ocean-living species; placental imaging; epigenetics and extracellular vesicles in pregnancy. Placenta. 84: 4-8.
  • Duchatelet L, Pinte N, Tomita T, Sato K, Mallefet J. 2019. Etmopteridae bioluminescence: dorsal pattern specificity and aposematic use. Zoological Letters. 5:9.
  • Tomita T, Murakumo K, Ueda K, Ashida H, Furuyama R. 2019. Locomotion is not a privilege after birth: Ultrasound images of viviparous shark embryos swimming from one uterus to the other. Ethology. 125: 122-126.
  • 冨田武照. 2019.「水族館古生物学」の展望. 化石. 105: 1-5.
  • Hirasaki, Y., Tomita T., Yanagisawa, M., Ueda, K., Sato, K., Okabe, M. 2018. Heart anatomy of Rhincodon typus: three-dimensional x-ray computed tomography of plastinated specimens. Anatomical record.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Murakumo. 2018. Stealth breathing of the angelshark. Zoology. 130: 1-5.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Miyamoto K, Ueda K, Nakaya K. 2018. Morphology of a hidden tube: Resin injection and CT scanning reveal the three-dimensional structure of the spiracle in the Japanese bullhead shark Heterodontus japonicas (Chondrichthyes; Heterodontiformes; Heterodontidae). The Anatomical Record. 301: 1336-1341.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Miyamoto K, Oka S, Ueda K, Sato K. 2018. Development of the lunate-shaped caudal fin in white shark embryos. The Anatomical Record. 301: 1068-1073.
  • Tomita T, Touma H, Murakumo K, Yanagisawa M, Yano N, Oka S, Miyamoto K, Hanahara N, Sato K. 2018. Captive birth of tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) revealed the shift of respiratory mode across parturition. Copeia. 106: 292-296.
  • Kimura K, Takagishi M, Kawai T., Imamura H, Ho H, Tomita T, Tanaka F, Shinohara, G. 2017. Record of a flathead fish, Rogadius pristiger (Cuvier, 1829) (Platycephalidae) from Taiwan. Platax. 14: 46-54.
  • Nishiguchi Y, Tomita T, Ihara H, Kiuchi S, Tani A, Okada M. 2017. Chemical composition of eggs from Deania hystricosa. International journal of analytical bio-science. 5: 57-60.
  • Tomita T, Nozu R, Nakamura M, Matsuzaki S, Miyamoto K, Sato K. 2017. Live-bearing without placenta: Physical estimation indicates the high oxygen-supplying ability of white shark uterus to the embryo. Scientific Reports. 7: 11744.
    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-11973-9
  • Tomita T, Miyamoto K, Kawaguchi A, Toda M, Oka S, Nozu R, Sato K. 2017. Dental ontogeny of a white shark embryo. Journal of Morphology. 278: 215-227.
  • Nishiguchi Y, Tomita T, Sato K, Yanagisawa M, Murakumo K, Kamisako H, Kaneko A, Hiruta N, Terai K, Takahara A, Okada M. 2016. Examination of the hearts and blood vascular system of Eptatretus okinoseanus using computed tomography images, diagnostic sonography, and histology. International journal of analytical bio-science. 4: 46-54.
  • Oka S, Tomita T, Miyamoto K. 2016. A mighty claw: Pinching force of the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial crustacean. PLOS ONE, 11(11): e0166108.
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166108
  • Nakaya K, Tomita T, Suda K, Sato K, Ogimoto K, Chappell A, Sato T, Takano K, Yuki Y. 2016. Slingshot feeding of the goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni (Pisces: Lamniformes: Mitsukurinidae). Scientific Reports, 6: 27786 (2016).
    https://www.nature.com/articles/srep27786
  • Sato K, Nakamura M, Tomita T, Toda M, Miyamoto K, Nozu R. 2016. How great white sharks nourish their embryos to a large size: evidence of lipid histotrophy in lamnoid shark reproduction. Biology Open. 2016 5: 1211-1215.
    http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/9/1211
  • Tomita T, Cotton C, Toda M. 2015. Ultrasound and physical models shed light on the respiratory system of embryonic dogfishes. Zoology. 119: 36-41.
  • Tomita T, Murakumo K, Miyamoto K, Sato K, Oka S, Kamisako H, Toda M. 2015. Eye retraction in the giant guitarfish, Rhynchobatus djiddensis (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea): a novel mechanism for eye protection in batoid fishes. Zoology. 119: 30-35.
  • Tomita T. 2015. Pectoral fin of the Paleozoic shark, Cladoselache: New reconstruction based on a near-complete specimen. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35: e973029.
  • Tomita T, Yokoyama K. 2015. The first Cenozoic record of a fossil megamouth shark (Lamniformes, Megachasmidae) from Asia. Paleontological Research. 19: 204-207.
  • Tomita T, Nakamura M, Sato K, Toda M, Nakaya K. 2014. Onset of buccal pumping in catshark embryo: How Breathing Develops in the Egg Capsule. PLOS ONE, 9: e109504.
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0109504
  • Tomita T, Tanaka S, Sato K, Nakaya K. 2014. Pectoral fin of the megamouth shark: Skeletal and muscular systems, skin histology, and functional morphology. PLOS ONE, 9:e86205.
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086205
  • Tomita T, Kawai T, Matsubara H, Kobayashi M, Katakura S. 2014. Northernmost record of a whale shark Rhincodon typus from the Sea of Okhotsk. Journal of Fish Biology. 84: 243-246.
  • Motani R, Cheng J, Tomita T, Kelley N, Maxwell E, Jiang D, Sander M. 2013. Absence of suction feeders among ichthyosaurs and its implications to the Mesopelagic paleoecology in the Triassic. PLOS ONE, 8:e66075.
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0066075
  • Tomita T, Kawai T, Matsubara H, Nagata R. 2013. Occurrence of the Chilean devil ray Mobula tarapacana (Elasmobnrahchii: Batoidea: Myliobatiformes) in the Sea of Okhotsk: first record from cold temperate waters. Journal of Fish Biology. 83: 695-698.
  • Tanaka T, Shiina T, Tomita T, Suzuki S, Hosomichi K, Sano K, Doi H, Kono A, Komiyama T, Inoko H, Kulski J. K. 2013. Evolutionary relations of Hexanchiformes deep-sea sharks elucidated by whole mitochondrial genome sequences. BioMed Research International. 2013: 1-12.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Yamamoto Y, Sato K, Uchida S, Nakaya K. 2013. A novel pharyngeal expansion mechanism in the yellow-spotted fanray, Platyrhina tangi (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea), with special reference to the function of the fifth ceratobranchial cartilage in batoids. Zoomorphology. 132: 317-324.
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Ueda K, Uchida S, Nakaya K. 2012. Live-bearing manta ray: how the embryo acquires oxygen without placenta and umbilical cord. Biology Letters. 8: 721-724.
  • Tomita T, Kurihara K. 2011. First record of a large Lamniform shark Cretodus semiplicatus in the Pacific region, from the Mikasa Formation (Lower Cenomanian), Hokkaido, Japan. Paleontological Research. 15: 181-184.
  • Tomita T, Sato K, Suda K, Kawauchi J, Nakaya K. 2011. Feeding of the megamouth shark (Pisces: Lamniformes: Megachasmidae) predicted by its hyoid arch: a biomechanical approach. Journal of Morphology. 272: 513-524
  • Tomita T. 2011. Mouth-size estimation of a primitive Lamniform shark, Protolamna: Low trophic position in Lamniform shark origin. Paleontological Research. 15: 68-76.
  • Tomita T, Oji T. 2010. Habitat reconstruction of Oligocene elasmobranchs from Yamaga Formation, Ashiya Group, western Japan. Paleontological Research. 14: 1-12.

Awards received

  • 2013年：Mesozoic Fish. Poster Award (Second Prize)
  • 2011年：日本古生物学会　論文賞　Mouth-size estimation of a primitive lamniform shark, Protolamna: low trophic position in lamniform shark origin.
  • 2011年：Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Edwin H. and Margaret M. Colbert Prize (Student Poster Prize)
  • 2009年：日本古生物学会　優秀ポスター賞
  • 2007年：日本古生物学会　優秀ポスター賞

Books

  • 土屋健（著）, 千葉謙太郎, 田中康平, 前田晴良, 冨田武照, 木村由莉, 神谷隆宏（監修）, ツク之助 (イラスト). 恋する化石 「男」と「女」の古生物学. ブックマン社
  • 佐藤圭一，冨田武照（著）．2021. 寝てもサメても　深層サメ学．産業編集センター．
  • 冨田武照．2019．化石から見た魚類大系統．IN: 日本魚類学会(編) 魚類学の百科事典．Pages 52-53，丸善．
  • 冨田武照．2019．軟骨魚類の系統進化．IN: 日本魚類学会(編) 魚類学の百科事典．Pages 56-57，丸善．
  • 土屋健（著），田中源吾，冨田武照，小西卓哉（監修）．2018.　海洋生物5億年史　サメ帝国の逆襲．文藝春秋．
  • 土屋健（著），冨田武照（イラスト監修）．2014．石炭紀・ペルム紀の生物．技術評論社．
  • 土屋健（著），冨田武照（イラスト監修）．2014．デボン紀の生物．技術評論社．

Affiliated academic society

  • Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
  • Paleontological Society of Japan

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