Scientists Discover Hammerhead Sharks Can “Hold Their Breath” to Stay Warm

Hammerhead SharkPhoto byWikimedia

A new study has revealed that scalloped hammerhead sharks have a unique way of keeping warm while swimming in cold, deep waters. They close their gills and hold their breath.

According to the research, this behavior has never been recorded in other fish species. Hammerheads are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature is regulated by their environment. Their gills are major points of body heat loss; if they get too cold, they become sluggish and unable to swim.

But, hammerheads are known to dive thousands of feet into the ocean's cold depths in search of prey, using none of the known strategies to stay warm.

The researchers from the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology's Shark Research Group attached specialized sensors to the sharks' backs. They tracked their muscle temperature, body orientation, surrounding water temperature, and depth while they dove repeatedly and rapidly from shallow waters to as deep as 2,600 feet.

This was a complete surprise. It was unexpected for sharks to hold their breath to hunt like a diving marine mammal. It is an extraordinary behavior from an incredible animal.” Mark Royer, researcher, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology.

The study found that the sharks closed their gills to prevent cold water from flowing across them, which would chill their body. This unique behavior allowed them to maintain their body temperature during deep dives.

While the researchers suggest that the sharks conserve heat by closing their gills, further direct evidence using cameras or other methods is needed to confirm this.

The study's findings offer new insights into the behavior and abilities of hammerhead sharks, and could potentially aid future conservation efforts to protect these fascinating creatures.

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