Pyjama Shark Spotted Looking 'Dead' In Tank Is Actually Just Sleeping
My spirit animal.
By Tamara Jayne — 12 Jun 2023, 03:05 PM
Naps are everything.
One shark in Hong Kong's Ocean Park knows that pretty well.
TikTok user @_efhraim shared a recent viral video which showed a shark lying upside down in a tank at Ocean Park, a theme park in Hong Kong with a marine world section showcasing over 100 sharks and rays.
The shark looks completely still in the video. Almost dead, even, if not for a sign pasted on the tank wall.
The sign on the tank shows a drawing of the shark lying upside down saying, "Don't worry, I am just sleeping", accompanied by the species name — Pyjama Shark.
An apt name for the sleepy creature.
The video has garnered over 3.4 million plays and 600,000 likes at the time of writing, as many commented with the best responses
Different types of sharks have different sleeping positions, depending on how they breathe
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, it's a misconception that sharks don't sleep because they need to keep moving to stay alive. Although this may be true of some species of sharks, many types sleep in different ways.
Some sleep by lying stationary on the sea floor, some snuggle up in groups, while others find safety by resting in a cave or in the sand.
Pyjama sharks, also known as cat sharks, got their name from the thick dark stripes that run along their bodies, making them appear to be wearing striped pyjamas.
