If sharks must continue moving forward in water in order to breathe, how do they sleep?

Answer 1

Well to start, not all sharks have to swim to breathe. There are many species that spend hours and hours not swimming.

However, more or less the science world is still working on exactly how sleeping while still moving works. They have gathered that only parts of the brain are shut down to give the animal rest, but exact details they are still working on. Look at it this way, there are may species of sharks that they are still trying to figure out basic facts about let alone how they sleep.

Nonetheless a good way I can put sharks (those that have to move) sleeping is look at it as sleep swimming. Kinda like how humans sleep walk. Enough of their brain has shut down to get rest but enough is still active for them to move around.

Answer 2

You are a little mis-informed on that myth. While some sharks do need to keep moving to force water over their gills, there are a bunch that don't. Bull sharks, Nurse Sharks, and a great many others have the ability to remain stationary and still force water through their gills. These sharks rest normally.

For those that do have to remain in motion, the theory is that they shut down either the right or left hemisphere of their brains at different times so as to allow for rest. Their type of "sleep" is vastly different of what you and I do, however.

Answer 3

People sleep walk. Sharks sleep swim.

Answer 4

some sharks rest where there is a small underwater current to allow water to flow into the mouth through the gills...

Answer 5

most sharks will sleep with there eyes open or may go into a cave and rest

Answer 6

because their whole brain doesn't shut down. the part that control moving and taking in water for oxygen is always working.

Answer 7

The whole entire brain gets shut down, and it's body just moves on it's own and functions out of wack i guess.