The Infinite Monkey Cage cover image

The Secret Life of Sharks

The Infinite Monkey Cage

CHAPTER

The Evolution of the Shark

The orca has learned to take advantage of a chink in the armour of the shark. Under certain conditions, particularly if they're flipped over onto their back, will go into a catatonic state called tonic immobility. It's something that biologists can use as a way of getting a shark to be passive so they can study its stomach contents. In some cases it's as simple as turning the fins of a shark or flipping it over onto their Back. And the orca have learnt that they can do that.

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