Hammerhead Sharks, The First Fish Specie Holding Their Breath.
Scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) have developed a distinctive adaptation to conserve body heat while hunting in frigid depths. In order to enhance their hunting capabilities, they have evolved the ability to shut their gills and prevent heat loss.
Many species of fish and marine mammals are recognized for their diving behavior, descending from the warmer surface to deeper waters in search of prey. Nevertheless, ectothermic creatures, commonly known as ‘cold-blooded’ animals, encounter the obstacle of maintaining their body temperature in order to sustain an active metabolism for hunting, especially when the surrounding water temperatures can be just a few degrees above freezing.
The Researcher
Mark Royer, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in shark physiology and behavior at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, which is affiliated with the University of Hawaiʻi, explains that the gills are the primary area of heat loss for any fish, even those with exceptional performance. Due to the substantial amount of warm blood circulating through the gills, they can be likened to “giant radiators attached to your head,” according to Royer.
Certain fish species, like the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), can retain their body heat while diving due to their large size. In contrast, species such as tuna, marlin, and the shark family that includes the great white (Carcharodon carcharias) and mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus), have developed specific heat-exchange mechanisms at their gills to prevent excessive heat loss from their bodies.
Despite lacking the advantages or adaptations mentioned earlier, the scalloped hammerhead shark has been observed undertaking rapid and repetitive dives to depths of approximately 800 meters.
Read The Original Article Hammerhead sharks are first fish found to ‘hold their breath
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