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How can whales hold their breath for so long?
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How can whales hold their breath for so long? Rather than keeping oxygen in their lungs like humans do, whales' bodies are specially adapted to store oxygen in their blood and muscles. They have extraordinarily high levels of the oxygen-storing proteins haemoglobin and myoglobin.
- How deep can a whale dive? - Natural History Museum
Whales are accomplished divers. The deepest whale dive...
- How long can whales hold their breath? - Natural History Museum
Whales' lungs are particularly efficient at taking up oxygen...
- How deep can a whale dive? - Natural History Museum
- Efficient Respiratory System
- Conservation of Energy
- Myoglobin: A Biological Advantage
There are a few things that play in whales’ favor when it comes to holding their breath for so long. For starters, whales have a very efficient respiratory system, which helps them make the most of a single breath. To put this in perspective, consider this – humans breathe around 12-20 times per minute when resting, but only absorb 5% of the oxygen...
While underwater, whales conserve as much energy as they can by slowing their heart rate and limiting blood supply to only a few select organs, such as the brain, heart and muscles (without affecting their blood pressure) to exploit the full potential of a single breath.
The biggest advantage for whales is myoglobin, a protein present in the muscles of most mammals. Myoglobin’s primary job is to bind to oxygen molecules, or more simply, store excess oxygen. Therefore, when you hold your breath even for a little while, it’s myoglobin that provides oxygen to your body. Since aquatic mammals spend significantly more t...
- 4 min
Whales' lungs are particularly efficient at taking up oxygen when they breathe air in and out through their blowholes at the water's surface. Special adaptations help them hold their breath for a long time. Discover the secrets of the deepest-diving whales.
Feb 2, 1998 · But equipped with a voluntary respiratory system, whales and dolphins must keep part of the brain alert to trigger each breath. Other methods help marine mammals to hold their breath...
Jun 20, 2013 · The whale's ability to hold its breath is, in a way, an evolutionary one-two punch: (1) The high concentration of myoglobin allows it to spend more time underwater in between breaths, and...
Jun 14, 2013 · Study solves the mystery of one of the most extreme adaptations in the animal kingdom: how marine mammals store enough oxygen to hold their breath for up to an hour.
Apr 14, 2022 · They surface briefly, just enough to get their blowhole above the surface: whales cannot breathe through their mouths, an evolutionary adaption that keeps them from drowning. But even five minutes per breath, all day, is impressive by any standard.
