It was considered, until recently, that sharks do not sleep at all, since it was believed that if they did they would not be able to breathe. However, a study carried out by a group of researchers from scientific institutions in Australia has shown, through records of physiological indicators, that these animals do maintain periods of sleep, this in order to reserve their energy.
The research was published in the journal Biology Letters and led by Michael Kelly of the University of Western Australia. The studies were commissioned to show the sleep signs of a checkerboard shark, named for the color pattern of dark spots on its skin that resembles a chessboard.
Changes in the oxygen consumption rate of seven checkerboard sharks, which were kept under surveillance inside a sealed intermittent flow respirometry chamber, were evaluated over a 24-hour period. In addition, the study analyzed behaviors associated with sleep: such as the state of the eyes, body posture.
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The scientists concluded that the sharks did sleep, as oxygen levels were significantly low during some periods, which lasted at least 5 minutes. Contrary to the period of activity of these animals, that is, when they were swimming, high levels of oxygen were recorded.
