How Reptiles Breathe?

There are many kinds of animals. One kind of animal is reptiles. The examples are snakes, crocodiles (crocodilians), alligators and others.

All reptiles breathe using their lungs but there are also some species or types of reptiles that breathe through their skin, using some kind of special skin pores.

Kinds of reptile that breathe using their lungs are crocodiles. Crocodiles use their nostrils to breathe the air. The air that they breathe will be transferred to their epiglottis then to the heart. The function of the epiglottis is to separate between the water and air. That makes the crocodile an amphibian, which means that they can breathe both on land and in water.

Snakes also breathe using their lungs. They breathe through their nostrils and the air that they breathe passes the windpipe and is transferred to the right lung. Gasses pass in and out of the lungs when the snakes breathe. Snakes also breathe in different way. They have the secondary plate to help them to breathe is really strong. So when they digest the windpipe being destroyed.

For example, crocodilians have alveoli in their lungs and a unique organ that attaches to the liver and that unique organ is almost the same with mammal’s breathing system.

Maybe every reptiles breathe with their lungs but the aquatic turtle has developed their respiratory system so they can use their permeable skin to breathe but although with this adaptation breathing will never be completed without lungs. Turtles and tortoises breathe using there shells. Actually the shell contains envelope lungs. When they rest, turtles can force air out. For example, the adult female green turtle can only breathe when they’re resting. The American turtle box also can completely breathe when they are sealed on their shells. The red eared turtle can also breathe when they’re swimming but they have to stop swimming for a while to breathe.

Most reptile hold there breathe if they are swallowing. Crocodilians have developed their breathing system so they can breathe if they are swallowing.

Every reptiles breathe with their lungs but the Aquatic turtle has developed their respiratory system so they can use their permeable skin to breath but although with this adaptation breathing will never be completed without lungs. Reptiles have modified their breathing way so they can be like an amphibian. For the examples Crocodiles they can breathe in land and water. But of course they cannot stay long in water they just swim to take down their prey.

How turtle and tortoise breath has been the subject of so much study.

For the example the Indian flapshell they have a sheet of muscle that contains lungs. Also when they are in their shell the shell can reduce its pressure and force air in.

(Nathan, Carolina, Heidi: grade 5)