2007-11-13 04:19:35 · 29 answers · asked by george j 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
turtles do have lungs which they utilize for the majority of their gas exchange; but, they have areas of highly vascularized skin around their cloaca (I think there might be an organ involved called a "bursae", but I can't remember exactly) that can facilitate gas exchange as well.
When a turtle is actively swimming around and using a high rate of metabolism, these vascularized areas only account for about 30% of the total gas exchange required for the animal to live (snapping turtles, sidenecked turtles, and the mata mata, are exceptions in that they obtain a far larger percentage of their metabolic oxygen through this process). During burmeation (reptilian hibernation), however, they are able to conduct 100% of their gas exchange through their skin. This is how aquatic turtles in temperate climates are able to spend all winter under the ice of a pond without needing to come to the surface.
I know this sounds odd, but cutaneous gas exchange takes place in most animals, even in humans. Several species of salamander never develop lungs as an adult, but instead have special folds and ridges along their body that increase their surface area to help facilitate gas exchange. Bats eliminate up to 12% of their metabolic CO2 through the skin in their wings, although they only absorb about 2% of thier oxygen this way.
2007-11-13 04:26:06 · answer #1 · answered by lovesongangel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sea cucumbers, Turtles and Dragonfly nymphs all breathe thru their butts. FACT
2007-11-13 12:25:45 · answer #2 · answered by Jarmin 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Turtles
2007-11-13 12:23:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some insects can, like the tick. There are some people I used to work with that could, or at least I think they could since that's where their heads were all the time.
2007-11-13 12:24:17 · answer #4 · answered by gilfinn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Turtle
2007-11-13 12:22:47 · answer #5 · answered by jadamgrd 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tarantulas
2007-11-13 12:22:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No animal can breath through his but and besides in has lungs and the vain goes up not down.
2007-11-13 12:23:31 · answer #7 · answered by kaylareeves1 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Some kind of Turtle I believe.
2007-11-13 12:22:32 · answer #8 · answered by B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mosquito larvae for example.
2007-11-13 14:38:46 · answer #9 · answered by Rikounet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has to be my ex-husband, considering where his head is most of the time...
2007-11-13 12:54:39 · answer #10 · answered by cnsdubie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋