can a turtle really breath through its butt?

Answer 1

This may seem odd but... Yes, some (not all) can. BUT...and this is important to remember....it does NOT involve the use of their lungs like you and I do.

Turtles have amazing anaerobic capabilities, which allow them to survive on very little oxygen for prolonged periods of time.

Like most animals/reptiles, they DO have lungs which take in air through the mouth and nose. But in a few species, there is a pair of sacs, or bursae that are connected to the internal portion of the cloacal opening, a single exit that acts as both the port for sexual reproduction and digestive system elimination.

They can suck water into their cloaca, and into two pockets that come off the chamber.

These pockets are lined with veins, and the turtles can absorb oxygen from the water into their blood.

The Fitzroy River turtle is one of the select few who can stay underwater, inhale water through the cloacal opening, and extract oxygen for its system. They also can breathe that way on land.

Answer 2

Well, I would've said no, but apparently, this is somewhat true.
Apparently, turtles have two special sets of respiratory muscles. One set pulls the body contents outward, toward the openings at the front and rear of the shell. This expands the body cavity and draws air into the lungs, which are located in the top part of the shell. The other pushes the viscera up against the lungs to expel the air. This system has the drawback that both inhalation and exhalation require energy--in most vertebrates, elastic energy can be recovered from the rib cage so that exhalation requires little exertion. Turtles have extraordinary anaerobic capacity--they have survived up to 33 hours in a pure nitrogen atmosphere. (Most reptiles have a high anaerobic capacity compared to mammals, but even they can't survive much more than 30 minutes without oxygen.) Although basically air-breathing, many aquatic species have developed ways to pick up oxygen even when submerged. Of these the most remarkable, which some turtles share with dragonfly nymphs, sea cucumbers, and certain televangelists, is the ability to breathe through one's butt.

Answer 3

DFred and VeniceGirl are correct... but another part of this question is- 'is the cloaca really a butt?'

The cloaca is an 'all in one' vent that voids solid and liquid wastes, and is the opening that all sex and reproduction occurs through. It is also a small 'void' that is rickly lined with blood vessels, allowing it to absorb the small amount of air some turtles need under some conditions.

We know several species of aquatic turtles cloacal breath during hibernation underwater- they also slowly pump water in the mouth and absorb out oxygen (one real benefit to them is that cold water contains more dissolved oxygen than warm water does!)

Answer 4

specific, bodily whilst they're on land they breathe by their mouths. yet whilst they're below water they breath by their butts as a results of fact they dont have any gills. i'm hoping this facilitates

Answer 5

Yes they can, only when in hibernation though. They bury themselves in the mud in rivers, streams, etc. their metabolism of course is really slow at this point and the oxygen taken in through the anal area sustains them through the winter.

Answer 6

Absolutely not, that is why they tend to stick their heads out of the water to breath. However politicians can, because their heads are up there. :)

Answer 7

yes but it usually doesn't want to.....it gives them really nasty morning breath.