Can Turtles Breathe Underwater? Their Anatomy Explained
Updated on
Many turtles are aquatic or semi-aquatic animals, so when watching them gracefully moving through the water, many people believe that these reptiles can breathe underwater.
But is that actually true? Can turtles breathe underwater?
Unfortunately, turtles can’t breathe underwater, though it may seem like they can. These stunning creatures have evolved and adapted to living in aquatic environments, so they can remain submerged for long periods.
If you’d like to learn more about turtles, their breathing, and how these reptiles manage to spend so much time underwater, check out the rest of the article, as we cover all that and more!
How Do Turtles Breathe?
Before we explain why turtles can’t breathe underwater, we want to explain how turtles actually breathe.
1. Nares
Most turtles breathe through their nares (nostrils) located above their mouths. Special muscles enable the process to be quite simple, as the turtle can quickly fill their lungs and keep up normal respiratory function.
2. Cloaca
Some turtle species are also able to absorb some oxygen from the water using cloacal respiration. Technically this is not so much breathing as diffusing oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, but is commonly referred to as ‘cloacal breathing’ or ‘butt breathing’. This feature usually evolves in turtle species that spend the winter underwater, as it enables them to safely wait for spring without having to worry about oxygen.
Turtles that experience cloacal respiration get oxygen from moving water over their body surfaces that contain blood vessels. As their cloaca (posterior orifice) contains many blood vessels, it’s the most efficient at absorbing oxygen when the turtle is underwater, hence the name cloacal breathing.
Can Turtles Breathe Underwater?
Turtles breathe by taking in oxygen from the air to survive, so just like humans. Although some species have adapted to get some oxygen from cloacal respiration they cannot breathe underwater and need to come to the water surface to breathe air.
So, how do they spend so much time in the water?
These reptiles can hold their breath for a long time, enough to perform their aquatic activities. But after a while, they need to get up to the surface to breathe air. Most turtles know not to push their limits, which is why they always get out of the water when they need to breathe. Staying underwater for too long without air could potentially be fatal.
Some turtle species, such as sea turtles, have evolved so much that besides being able to hold their breath for a long time, they can absorb a certain amount of oxygen while underwater, allowing them to stay under the water longer than any other land animal. While even these turtles need air for their respiratory functions, they can spend up to 7 hours in the water without going up for air.
How Long Can Turtles Stay Underwater?
The precise amount of time that a turtle can spend underwater will vary depending on the species. Terrestrial turtles usually spend much less time underwater than aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles. Activity level and temperature also affect how long a turtle can stay underwater.
Terrestrial Turtles
Unlike aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles, terrestrial turtles, such as box turtles, can spend a certain amount of time underwater, but not too long. On average, a box turtle can spend between 15 and 30 minutes underwater. This species can’t sleep underwater like most aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles can. They need water in their enclosure to drink and bathe, but they will often use their basking spot as a sleeping place.
Aquatic/Semi-aquatic Turtles
These magnificent creatures can hold their breath for extended periods, which makes it seem as if they can breathe in the water.
Turtle species that are semi-aquatic or aquatic usually sleep underwater, which is when they use cloacal respiration. During this time, their metabolism also slows, reducing their need for oxygen and enabling them to stay underwater for hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Turtles Drown?
Since turtles require oxygen for proper respiratory function, they can drown, though such a situation is rare. When in an adequate environment, most turtles won’t drown because they know when they need to get out of the water to breathe.
If you have a pet turtle, you’ll need to ensure that its enclosure contains both water and land; that way, if your pet turtle needs to grab fresh air, a basking surface will be easily accessible.
How Deep Can Turtles Go Underwater?
Turtles are extraordinary creatures that are well adapted to doing various activities underwater; they hunt, play, eat, and even sleep there. The diving ability of a turtle depends on their species, but there are some species, such as the leatherback turtle, that can dive to an outstanding depth of 3,000 feet below sea level.
Conclusion
While it may seem like turtles can breathe underwater, they cannot. However, most of these reptiles have adapted to be able to hold their breath underwater for several hours.
Many species can stay underwater from 1 hour to several hours, depending on their level of activity. Some species even sleep underwater.
See Also:
- Do Turtles Have Ears? Vet Reviewed Issues & Care Guide
- Do Turtles Drink Water? Science-Based Facts & FAQ
Featured Image Credit to: Clayton Lane, Shutterstock
