How do sharks breathe?
Like other fish, sharks have gills to aid in respiration. Sharks have between 5 and 7 gill slits located on the side of the head. Water has to be constantly passed over the gills slits to enable gas exchange to occur. Water flows into the shark’s mouth as the shark swims forward (or while the shark is buccal pumping), passes into the pharynx, over the gills and finally leaves through the gills slits. Oxygen in the water is absorbed into tiny blood vessels near the gills, which then carry oxygen around the body.
OBLIGATE RAM VENTILATION
With this method of breathing sharks swim forward with their mouth open, allowing water to move in and over the gills. These sharks have lost the ability to buccal pump as they no longer have the correct anatomy to do so.
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Species: White sharks, mako sharks and whale sharks.
BUCCAL PUMPING
​This method of breathing is named for the buccal (mouth) muscles that draw water into the mouth and over the gills. This allows the shark to breathe while at rest.
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Species: Nurse sharks, whitetip reef sharks, Port Jackson sharks
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Some sharks have the ability to switch between ram ventilation and buccal pumping.
Species: Lemon sharks, tiger sharks
SPIRACLES
Rays and some species of shark have paired openings behind the eyes. The spiracles take water into the buccal space before it is then moved to the gills for respiration. It allows bottom dwelling species to breath, even if the animal is mostly buried in the sediment (sand).
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Species: Wobbegongs, shark rays, angel sharks.
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