About sharks and sleeping

While it was once thought that virtually all of the pelagic fish (which would include sharks and tuna) never rested; this belief is being shaken.  On one side, sleeping sharks, first discovered in the famous sleeping shark caves near the coast of Isla Mujeres and since observed throughout the region proved that at least some species of sharks “slept”.  On the other, there are new theories that the large warm-bodied fish (still including sharks and tuna) went into a stupor/sleep state at regular intervals, but still kept swimming slowly as an unconscious movement (the same way humans breath, roll over, cough, etc.  in their sleep).  It doesn’t help that sharks don’t have eye-lids, so it’s really hard to tell if they’re awake or not.

- Phill G.

Actually, there are several species of shark that do “sleep”.  And several species of shark that do rest on the floor of the ocean.

- Andrew K.

Share This