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2007-05-24 07:13:12 · 11 answers · asked by Voight-Kampff 3 in Science & Mathematics Zoology

11 answers

Sharks need to ventilate their gills with water in order to get enough oxygen - without oxygen they effectively suffocate. Some sharks are able to do this by pumping water through their mouth whilst lying still but many need to keep moving.

2007-05-24 19:47:24 · answer #1 · answered by chillipope 7 · 2 1

Strictly speaking this is a common misconception, the reason a shark seems to always be moving is the necessity to have a constant and sufficient water flow over and through its gills in order to extract the oxygen it requires. This is normally done by swimming although if the current or other forms of water movement are sufficient, then forward movement is not necessary. Sharks, like many animals do not sleep in the conventional way, but instead will slow their pace and cease all but essential activities and may appear to be in a trance like state or 'sleep'.

2016-05-17 04:56:02 · answer #2 · answered by gail 3 · 0 0

A predator that cant move wouldnt be able to catch prey,so yes if the shark couldnt swim anymore it would more then likely die.

2007-05-24 08:31:41 · answer #3 · answered by Johnny 4 · 0 0

yes, they need to constantly be moving. this is because sharks do not have something called a swim bladder, which helps fish stay afloat. ala, if they do not have the bladder, they do not float.

sharks do however have much oil in them which helps with floating.

2007-05-24 07:18:44 · answer #4 · answered by xy z 1 · 0 0

NOOOO!!!! that is not true....if u were to look in the tank at the aqurium they are some sharks at the bottom of the tank and they are sleeping and they are not dead...water just have to flow by their gills in order for them to keep breathing

2007-05-24 15:34:44 · answer #5 · answered by spongebob fan 4 · 3 0

A few species can pump water over their gills. Most have to keep moving, or be in a current. They can swim on a sort of automatic pilot, however.

2007-05-24 07:18:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4 0

I know that they constantly swim. Whether they die if they stop I am not sure.

2007-05-24 07:18:15 · answer #7 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0 0

I'm not sure, but I do know that sharks stop swimming if they die... That didn't help, did it?

2007-05-24 10:05:39 · answer #8 · answered by Smythe 2 · 0 3

False. Moving their mouths and gill openings, they can pump enough water over the gills to continue living.

2007-05-24 07:20:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3 0

Cut its fins off and find out.

2007-05-24 07:18:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 4

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