Gastric Eversion (vomiting) In Sharks

[Sharon]

Below is a video (with commentary) showing a Shortfin Mako shark displaying gastric or stomach eversion - a little similar to vomiting.

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 similar to suction feeding. This behaviour provides a ‘cleansing’ function for removing indigestible food particles, bones, parasites or mucus from the stomach lining. Sharks, and possibly other animals with similar gut structures, may use this technique to help maintain a healthy alimentary tract.

Shortfin Mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, with its stomach manually everted out of its mouth. The stomach was everted by pulling on it anteriorly and pushing it from within the coelomic cavity.

[Faline]

Never heard of this before or seen it

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Never heard of this before or seen it

Nor me, it's fascinating!! I ended up watching loads of videos of sharks puking up. They were all pretty much the same and this was the most impressive.

[kellyhound]

first time seeing or hearing bout that.
cool.

[Forensicgirl52]

I had no idea sharks did that! Fascinating.