2007-01-19 03:34:57 · 5 answers · asked by major b 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Oddly, this is sort of true.
Turtles don't need a lot of oxygen, and in some situations, they can get what they need from the water around them.
Some KNOWN examples of this are the Fly River turtle in South America, which is known to do something called 'cloacal breathing' during extended dives for food.
Cloacal breathing means that the animal pumps water into the vent called the 'cloaca', which in reptiles is the 'all in one' opening they excrete and reproduce through near the tail. The air in the water is absorbed by blood-rich tissues lining the cloaca and allows the turtle to stay under longer.
This may happen on other species, but it is so far only documented in the Fly River turtle.
Many species of pond turtles in temperate regions hibernate underwater. When the water is cold enough for hibernation it is also richer in oxygen. Hibernating turtles need so little oxygen in hibernation that they can get it by slowly pumping it in and out of their mouth and absorbing it in the tissues in the mouth. Many of these species are suspected of doing cloacal breathing at the same time.
No turtle does cloacal breathing as its main technique, and the cloaca is not really a 'butt', but the basic idea is true.
2007-01-19 08:20:53 · answer #1 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Turtles have lungs, like all reptiles. They need air to breathe. Turtles store air in their butt for when they need it, either during hibernation or staying in the water. But if a turtle does not have air it will drown.
2007-01-19 03:50:05 · answer #2 · answered by Casey B 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Can turtles breathe through their butt? Please explain.?
2015-08-18 22:49:26 · answer #3 · answered by Loma 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, turtles can not breath through their but.
Some reptiles and amphibians can absorb oxygen through their skin but even this ability does not allow them to exist under water for much past their lung capacity.
2007-01-19 03:50:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
yeah I heard that just recently also. not sure how they do that butt perhaps they can pull in air and that oxygen is somehow able to get into the bloodstream. go figure. animals can do lots of things we humans only dream of doing lolololol
2007-01-19 03:47:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What kind of rediculous question isthis of course they can't. Why on earth would you ask a question like that?
2007-01-19 04:01:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
what would make you ask that? (I'm not being smart, im curious...)
2007-01-19 03:40:17 · answer #7 · answered by Silver Thunderbird 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋