Evolution Of Turtles Essay
Did you know turtles can breathe through their butts? Now, I know this may sound weird, but it is true. Turtles are a species that have adapted to their environments in a way that allows them to breathe in three different ways, one of which is through their butts. This whole butt breathing adaptation is part of the aquatic turtles’ evolution. Apart from breathing through their butts there are two other ways turtles can breathe. The first way is the one most used among all creatures: through their lungs. Like most vertebrates, turtles use their lungs as the main method through which they respire; however, through years of evolution turtles have flattened out the whole underside of their shells so that it creates a barrier for their organs,
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Most aquatic turtles can only breathe up to twenty percent of oxygen this way, but specific species of turtles such as, the Australian Fitzroy River turtle and the American Eastern Painted turtle, can breathe up to seventy percent this way. The way this works is that turtles have one opening through which they excrete, urinate, and lay eggs called the cloaca. On the sides of the cloaca there are two sacs called bursa that are tissues. The bursas contain blood vessels through which oxygen is diffused. The oxygen is then absorbed by the tissue allowing the turtles to breathe. You may be wondering if turtles can breathe through their lungs, mouths, and throats why do some species choose to get the majority of their oxygen through their butt? Although this may not seem like the most productive method for getting oxygen, it is helpful in some situations because of the little work it requires and the benefits it brings for turtles during hibernation. In comparison to oxygen intake via the lungs, cloacal respiration uses a lot less energy. Some aquatic turtles go into a five-month hibernation period where they have to breathe under water. Hibernation requires them to utilize a lot of anaerobic processes which cause lactic acid to form. These processes under water require a lot of work for the turtles because of their ribcage constricted lungs. The more work the hibernating turtles
Most aquatic turtles can only breathe up to twenty percent of oxygen this way, but specific species of turtles such as, the Australian Fitzroy River turtle and the American Eastern Painted turtle, can breathe up to seventy percent this way. The way this works is that turtles have one opening through which they excrete, urinate, and lay eggs called the cloaca. On the sides of the cloaca there are two sacs called bursa that are tissues. The bursas contain blood vessels through which oxygen is diffused. The oxygen is then absorbed by the tissue allowing the turtles to breathe. You may be wondering if turtles can breathe through their lungs, mouths, and throats why do some species choose to get the majority of their oxygen through their butt? Although this may not seem like the most productive method for getting oxygen, it is helpful in some situations because of the little work it requires and the benefits it brings for turtles during hibernation. In comparison to oxygen intake via the lungs, cloacal respiration uses a lot less energy. Some aquatic turtles go into a five-month hibernation period where they have to breathe under water. Hibernation requires them to utilize a lot of anaerobic processes which cause lactic acid to form. These processes under water require a lot of work for the turtles because of their ribcage constricted lungs. The more work the hibernating turtles