Is it true that sharks die when they stop swimming? In these cases, it really applies: The explanation will surprise you – Topky.sk

Is it true that sharks die when they stop swimming? It is and at the same time it is not. It depends on what kind of predator it is. If you look at the bearded and tiger sharks, this theory is false because these and a few other species can stop swimming whenever they want without endangering their lives. They breathe on the basis of buccal pumping with the help of cheek muscles and suck in water to draw it into their mouths. This allows them to stop while continuing to breathe. They can thus rest without fear on the ocean floor and even partially bury themselves in the sand, using breathing holes behind their eyes, called spiraculum, to draw water. Photo gallery (2) Source: Getty images However, some species of these predators are not equipped in this way. For example, the white shark, the whale, and even the mako shark do not have buccal muscles. Instead, they rely solely on their gills, and the faster they swim, the more water is pushed through them. So if they stop swimming, they don’t have access to oxygen and die. Other species, such as the reef shark, use a combination of both types of respiration. When swimming slowly, they can breathe buccally and use gills to replenish the amount of oxygen. Thus, if they stop for a few minutes, they will not risk their lives, although they are generally not as fit as sharks, which only breathe through the mouth. Of these ways that sharks breathe, this combination is the most common, so most of them will not die if they stop swimming. So why do many people think it’s different? Sharks are often compared to bony fish, a class of fish that breathe through gills. Since they are all constantly on the move, many people assume that sharks are the same. In reality, however, the principle of breathing in non-shark fish species is also diverse. Some sleep on the bottom of the ocean, as do many sharks. Perhaps people who think otherwise simply haven’t observed these aquatic animals before going to bed.