Moving forward: Sharks are the only fish that can't swim backwards — and if you pull a shark backward by its tail, it will die.

Can sharks drown going backwards?

FALSE: Sharks swim backwards

The answer is no, although there are a few species, including the epaulette shark, found in tropical Australian waters from northern NSW to Shark Bay, WA, that can “walk” backwards.

What makes a shark drown?

Just like every living thing, sharks need oxygen to breathe. When there is a shortage of oxygen in water, and they can no longer breathe, they drown.