Tonic immobility produces different responses in different animals. For example, in some reptiles it produces hyperalgesia (i.e. more intense feeling of pain), but in some rodents, it does produce some analgesia.
It has not been documented to have analgesic effects in sharks, and in some instances have been linked to hyperaesthesia (i.e. increased ability to feel).Therefore, additional analgesia is recommended when performing painful or invasive procedures
Therefore, additional analgesia is recommended when performing painful or invasive procedures
Some scientists also believe that tonic immobility can be a stressful experience for sharks. By measuring blood chemistry samples when the shark is immobile, it has been suggested that tonic immobility can actually put stress on the shark, and reduce breathing efficiency. However, it has also been proposed that sharks have a series of compensatory mechanisms that work to increase respiration rates and lower stress <https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Apparent_death.html>
Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist.
Locations: Perth | Melbourne | Sydney | Canberra | Townsville | Singapore.
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA
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