Shocking Video Debunks Common Belief About Sharks' Need to Keep Moving

Biologists have discovered that gray reef sharks, previously believed to be obligate ram ventilators that must constantly swim to breathe, are capable of sleeping and resting on the seafloor. Divers from Save Our Seas observed these sharks napping in the shelter of rocky reef ledges in the Seychelles, noticing their lower jaws rising and falling in a manner consistent with buccal pumping, a method of breathing while at rest. This surprising finding challenges previous understanding of gray reef shark physiology and could provide insights into their responses to environmental change.