During the process of divergence from ancient shark to modern speed machine, white shark spiracles became small to non-existant. Because of this, white sharks are considered obligate ram ventilators, which means they must constantly move in order to move water over their gills to breath.

What sharks have spiracles?

The spiracle is still found in all cartilaginous fish except requiem sharks, hammerhead sharks, and chimaeras, and is found in some primitive bony fishes (coelacanth, sturgeon, paddlefish and bichirs).

Do Great Whites have spiracles?

These sharks also have prominent spiracles, or respiratory openings behind the eyes that allow the fish to pull in water while buried under sand. ... Sharks from this group (which includes great white, mako and whale sharks) would indeed die from lack of oxygen if they stopped swimming.