Do seals breathe underwater

Do seals breathe underwater

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Seals do not breathe underwater in the same way fish do with gills. Instead, they use their lungs to breathe air at the surface and then hold their breath while diving. Seals have evolved several physiological adaptations that allow them to stay underwater for extended periods:

1. **Oxygen Storage**: Seals store oxygen in their blood and muscles, primarily through a protein called myoglobin, which acts like an internal oxygen tank[1][4]. This allows them to conserve energy and extend dive times.

2. **Efficient Oxygen Use**: Their muscles here can work with reduced oxygen levels, further prolonging dive time[1].

3. **Lung Collapse**: click here During dives, seals' lungs often collapse to prevent decompression sickness (the bends), which helps conserve energy by reducing buoyancy[2].

4. **Breath-Holding Duration**: Different seal species can hold their breath for varying lengths of time; for example, elephant seals can stay underwater for up to two hours[2][4].

Overall, while seals don't "breathe" underwater like fish do with gills, they are highly adapted to life in water through these unique physiological traits.

Citations:
[1] https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/why-do-seals-breathe-out-when-they-dive
[2] https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-long-can-seals-hold-their-breath-underwater/
[3] https://williams.eeb.ucsc.edu/education/for-teachers/580-2/breath-hold-introduction/
[4] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/130614-diving-mammal-myoglobin-oxygen-ocean-science
[5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22901976
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureIsFuckingLit/comments/jlvar1/seals_sleeping_underwater/
[7] https://consejoudem.udem.edu.mx/do-seals-have-gills-to-breathe-underwater