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How do whales breathe underwater or if they can't how can they stay underwater for such a long time?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Whales breath air just like we do through their nose which in their case is the blowhole on the top of their head. If they do not make it to the surface every so often then they will drown. They can hold their breath because they have a large lung capacity.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBecause they are mammals and not fish therefore they do not have gills. Gills process the water so that the oxygen can get into the blood stream where as mammals have lungs, if a whale breathes in under water its lungs would just fill with water and so would drown
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoWhales don't breathe under water. They're air-breathing mammals with lungs. When they dive they hold their breath.
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Why cant the blue whale breathe under water?
Blue whales are mammals. They breathe air with lungs, pretty much just like you and I. When they dive, they hold their breath.
Can penquins breathe underwater?
no but they can hold their breathe for long periods of time
How long do gray whales stay underwater?
Adult gray whales can stay underwater for approximately 10 - 15 minutes.
How long can a bee breathe underwater?
about a day
Can whales breathe underwater?
whales an not breath under waterno they can hold their breath under water for long periods of time but come up to the surface for airNo they can't. They take a big breath of air above the surface then they just hold their breath for a long time.
Why does a shark is able to stay underwater for a long time but a whale cannot?
Sharks and whales have completely different structures and organs. A shark is actually a fish and has gills, while a whale is a mammal and can only breathe with its lung like all mammals. Fish have gills to allow them to breathe underwater. Sharks do not need to come to the surface to breathe.
Can whales stay underwater for more than an hour?
Yes whales can stay under water for more than an hour, unless they are still babies then they need to have oxygen sooner.
How long can sperm whales stay underwater for?
40 minutes
Can hippos breathe underwater?
Hippos can't "breath" underwater but they can hold their breath for long periods of time.
Can painted turtles breathe underwater?
No, they have to surface to breathe. They can go a long time between breaths though.
Does a crocodile have a bigger snout than an alligator because it can't breathe underwater as long as an alligator can underwater?
Crocs as well as alligators CAN'T breathe underwater. When they dive, they hold their breath.
How long can a manta ray stay underwater?
They have gills. They do not breathe the same air that we do.
