2007-09-10 16:11:12 · 8 answers · asked by Lisa A 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Because when they move forward it forces water through their gills which draws the oxygen out of the water and into their system. If they stopped moving they wouldn't be able to breathe and would drown/suffocate.
2007-09-10 16:16:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Apparently if you hold a shark by the tail so it can't swim forward, it will drown because it can not get any oxygen from the water that would otherwise be going through it's gills.
Like I'm going to try to hold onto a shark by the tail !
[Anyway, I think it's the front end you have to worry about!]
2007-09-10 17:44:04 · answer #2 · answered by Hermione 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The active constantly swimming species need to keep moving to get water moving across the gills. There are species that don't have to keep swimming to keep water moving across the gills. These pump water over the gills using their mouths. Some species have spiracles in their heads, that assist in moving water over gills. However, sharks do get down time. The swimming species will rest on reefs with the mouth open allowing the current to help flush water across the gills.
Shark Anatomy
http://www.oceanofk.org/sharks/sharkAnatomy.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/world/clickablesans.html
2007-09-10 16:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sharks' gills are designed to obtain oxygen from the water by having water pass through them. They must keep moving forward in order for the water to continue to flow through their gills.
2007-09-10 16:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
They have to have water constantly moving through their gills or they suffocate. Think of it this way: If you didn't have the capacity to draw breath but had to walk/run to get air into your system, what would happen when you ran into someone or got stuck somehow? They have a remarkable capacity to process the water through their systems and movement is the way they do it.
2007-09-10 16:20:12 · answer #5 · answered by Jess 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Can T Stop Moving
2016-09-28 05:19:06 · answer #6 · answered by wilmore 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sharks must swim continously to keep up their blood pressure. If they don't move constantly, their pressure drops dramatically, and they could die.
I included a website for you to read about it.
2007-09-10 16:24:37 · answer #7 · answered by D J 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
This was bugging me too
2016-07-30 02:57:12 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thanks for the answers, much appreciated
2016-08-24 15:26:05 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋