![]() In 2016, marine biologists made an unprecedented discovery by recording a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) asleep for the first time in history. The Astonishing Discovery of a Sleeping Great White Shark ![]() It's thought that this behaviour might allow the sharks to "rest" while still swimming, effectively catching some shut-eye on the go. Some researchers have observed great whites engaging in what's known as "synchronised swimming," where they swim in unison with other sharks, maintaining a constant speed and direction. ![]() When great white sharks do sleep, they will most likely be doing so while still on the move. Catching Z's on the Go: Synchronised Swimming However, this theory has been challenged by the discovery of other shark species that can switch between ram ventilation and buccal pumping (pumping water over their gills while stationary) to breathe, which could potentially allow them to rest or sleep. Some scientists argue that, due to their reliance on ram ventilation, great white sharks cannot fully enter a sleep state, as they must always be on the move. This process is essential for them to extract oxygen and survive. Great whites rely on a process called "ram ventilation," where they constantly swim forward to push water through their mouths and over their gills. One of the reasons why the question "Do Great White Sharks Sleep?" is so tricky to answer lies in the way these sharks breathe. Swimming to Survive: The Ram Ventilation Theory Instead, they exhibit periods of reduced activity and lower metabolic rates, which some scientists believe might be their equivalent of sleep. Unlike land-dwelling mammals, sharks don't have eyelids, which means they can't simply close their eyes and drift off to dreamland.
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