Rapid voluntary stomach eversion in a free-living shark

Brunnschweiler, J.M. and Andrews, P.L.R. and Southall, E.J. and Pickering, M. and Sims, D.W. (2005) Rapid voluntary stomach eversion in a free-living shark. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 85 (5). pp. 1141-1144. ISSN 0025-3154

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DOI: 10.1017/S0025315405012208

Official URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=MBI

Abstract

Video observation of oral gastric eversion in a free-living Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) shows voluntary gastric eversion followed by retraction not only occurs, but is extremely rapid (lasting [similar]0.3 s). Eversion may occur by stomach relaxation–oesophageal contraction coupled with increased abdominal pressures to enable prolapse, and retraction by a mechanism analogous to suction feeding. This behaviour provides a ‘cleansing’ function for removing indigestible food particles, parasites or mucus from the stomach lining. Sharks, and possibly other animals with similar gut morphologies, may use this technique to help maintain a healthy alimentary tract.

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