Sharks do not have a swim bladder. Instead, they have a large liver filled with oil. Because oil is less dense than water, all of this oil helps sharks float in the ocean.
Sharks have livers different from other animals. It takes up much more internal space and serves more functions than simply helping with digestion; the oil inside the liver helps sharks stay buoyant under water.
While digestion is an important function of a shark’s liver, it’s not the reason the liver is so big or why it’s filled with oil. The oil, called squalene, is lighter than the water. A shark’s body is naturally heavier than water, and he doesn’t have a swim bladder to fill with air like some other fish. The oil lightens the shark’s body, providing buoyancy so he won’t sink. Sharks must keep swimming to push water past their gills to breathe, and buoyancy is key to keeping on the go and staying off the ocean floor. Sharks use their pectoral fins to help them change directions in the water, but without the oil, sharks would expend too much energy swimming and staying buoyant than they could replace with their food.
Credit : Pets on Mom
Picture Credit : Google
