A Whitetip Reef Shark cruises along the sandy bottom in idyllic crystal clear waters.
Whitetip reef sharks are one of the few shark species you’ll witness sitting on the sea floor. Certain shark species including the Great white, Mako and Whaleshark have to constantly swim otherwise they will die. They require a constant flow of water through their gills to provide them with oxygen. This process is referred to as obligate ram ventilation. White tip reef sharks have developed an adaptation so they don’t have to exert energy to constantly swim while still being able to “breathe”. They use their cheek muscles to inhale water through their mouth, pumping it over their gills, while the rest of their body remains still. This process is referred to as buccal pumping and allows certain shark species to rest on the seafloor.