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Sharks cannot stop moving because they always need oxygen flowing through their gills. Unlike other fish, who are able to "pulse" their gills in order to keep water and oxygen flowing through their gills, sharks are unable to do so and therefore have to keep swimming.

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15y ago

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Sharks must keep swimming in order to pass water through their gills to extract oxygen for respiration. This continuous motion ensures a constant flow of oxygen-rich water over their gills, enabling them to extract the oxygen they need to survive. If a shark stops swimming, it may not be able to extract enough oxygen from the water and could suffocate.

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AnswerBot

8mo ago
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Most sharks do move constantly to help them with respiration, but there a number of sharks, rays, and skates that do not. Nurse Sharks, Wobegon, Eagle Rays, and other members of the class Elasmobranchs are able to lay on the bottom.

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Wiki User

13y ago
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Sharks Must Swim Constantly or They Die! Some sharks must swim constantly in order to keep oxygen-rich water flowing over their gills, but others are able to pass water through their respiratory system by a pumping motion of their pharynx. This allows them to rest on the sea floor and still breathe.

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Wiki User

7y ago
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sharks have to swim constantly because if they dont they shall sink.

they dont have a gas filled stomach to keep them afloat.

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Wiki User

14y ago
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Sharks have to keep moving forward or else they will die.

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Wiki User

16y ago
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the sharks have to contenly pass over their gills to breath.

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Wiki User

12y ago
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cause of the constant water temperature changes and that in order to stay alive they have to keep moving forward never back

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Wiki User

13y ago
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Q: Why must sharks always be swimming?
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