Slow and Steady
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For many fishes, slow swimming tends to prove exhausting because more effort is spent maintaining attitude. Once the fish is traveling fast enough, the foreword velocity sends enough water over its fins and body so that orientation can be more easily controlled. [1]
If the fin layout, caudal fin, ventilation arrangement, body shape, and body size are right, a slow-swimming lifestyle can prove incredibly viable in certain situations. |
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In environments where food opportunities tend to be infrequent, energy consumption is best kept at a minimum. Should a fish patrol for food slowly and steadily, sparse meals can easily support a low metabolism. Such is the case with the Greenland shark.
Often touted as the slowest of sharks, Greenland sharks are ectotherms who live in low temperatures (as low as -1.5*C), so they have an incredibly low metabolism. This works out well for them, as they have long life expectancies (>272 years) and grow to be about the same length as Great Whites. [2][3]
Often touted as the slowest of sharks, Greenland sharks are ectotherms who live in low temperatures (as low as -1.5*C), so they have an incredibly low metabolism. This works out well for them, as they have long life expectancies (>272 years) and grow to be about the same length as Great Whites. [2][3]
