Might be you have seen dolphins in the open water, they take a deep dive into the ocean water and within a blink of an eye, they appear out of the water. Do you ever think, why they exhibit this unique pattern? This is because dolphins are not fish, they are mammals that need to breathe atmospheric oxygen if they want to live. Then what about Bottlenose dolphins? Can they hold their breath, if yes then how long? Let’s see. Scroll down!
How Long Can A Bottlenose Dolphin Hold Its Breath?
The bottlenose dolphin is a marine mammal that can come to the surface of the water to breathe air, and hold its breath when they are under the water. Interestingly, the Bottlenose dolphins can hold their breath under the water for only 12 to 15 minutes maximum.
Can Bottlenose Dolphins Be Capable Of Breathing Under The Water?
No! The bottlenose dolphins are not capable of breathing under the water because they do not have gills instead they have lungs that only allow them to breathe out of the water. They are capable of holding their breath for a time to feed or roam under the water. Once they are out of breath, they come to the surface to store air for underwater activities.
What Happens If Bottlenose Dolphins Can’t Come To The Water Surface?
Bottlenose dolphins are air-breathing mammals which must need to come to the surface for breathing. If for some reason, they can’t reach the surface then they feel dizzy and light-headed, rising the chances of becoming prey to the predatory animals.
What Mechanisms Do Bottlenose Dolphins Adapt For Breathing?
Bottlenose dolphins have different mechanisms to breathe than other mammals. They breathe either through the blowholes or by the lungs. A blowhole is located on the head of the dolphins, which stores as much oxygen as enough for them to breathe under the water. A blowhole closes under the water to prevent water to enter the respiratory system. On the other hand, the lung’s functions are the same way as that of other mammals – regulating the flow of oxygen.
How Long Can Bottlenose Dolphins Stay Out Of The Water?
Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic animals that live in water for their survival but they are also capable of living out of water. They can live for a few hours out of the water or it depends upon how long they keep themselves wet and cool. Once they feel exhausted and dehydrated, then they take a deep dive to regulate their body temperature.
Final Thoughts
Dolphins are marine mammals that are adapted to live under the water as well as out of the water. Bottlenose dolphins live under the water for feeding and roaming whereas they come out of the water to breathe the atmospheric oxygen. They are not capable of breathing under the water because they do not have gills but they possess lungs and blowholes which help them regulate and store enough oxygen to breathe under the water. Once they are out of breath, they come to the surface to store air for underwater activities.
