Scientists have recorded very strange actions of sharks in the ocean, which were dozing at the bottom and yawning.
This is reported by Science Alert.
Most marine life, including the ocean’s most dangerous predators, sharks, are forced to constantly move to maintain vital processes in the water. Otherwise, the flow of water and oxygen through the gills will stop and they will die.
However, there are fish that give themselves the opportunity to rest by temporarily stopping their movement and opening and closing their mouths – during this process water continues to move through the gills. But not all species can afford such a vacation; These include obligate plunger fans. Unlike their less mobile relatives, they cannot use their mouths to pump water through their gills when at rest.
Previously, scientists included gray reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) as such species, but the attitude towards them changed after a new observation by underwater researchers. As they descended to the ocean floor, they discovered several sharks resting under the overhanging rocky ledges of the reefs. And what is more surprising, they remained motionless.
As they approached, the researchers noticed that the sharks’ bodies remained motionless while their lower jaws rose and fell in a motion similar to using a buccal pump – opening and closing the mouth to “breathe” while at rest.
Filmmaker Craig Foster, known for his 2020 documentary My Octopus Teacher, was among the divers who made the discovery. He later co-authored a paper in which scientists detailed the behavior of gray reef sharks, completely redefining our understanding of their usual habits.
Gray reef sharks have demonstrated this unusual behavior more than once, with the first three individuals spotted sleeping back in September 2023. In subsequent observations in 2023, scientists discovered four more sharks resting on the ocean floor.
During all these observations, divers kept their distance from the animals so as not to disturb their sleep. The average sleep duration for marine inhabitants ranged from 15 to 40 minutes.
Study leader from the Save Our Seas D’Arros Research Center in the Seychelles, marine biologist Robert Bullock, notes that despite extensive knowledge of the biology, physiology, behavior and ecology of gray reef sharks, the discovery of this behavior again highlights the unknown nature of many aspects of their lives.
Cursor also reported a shark glowing in the dark.
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2023-12-17 15:02:37
