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Marine mammals adaptation to deep and long duration breath-hold diving involves more efficient use of lungs that are proportionately smaller than those of terrestrial animals of similar size. The adaptations to the lungs allow more efficient extraction of oxygen from inhaled air, and a higher exchange rate of air of up to 90% of each breath.
Marine mammals are adept at thermoregulation using dense fur or blubber, circulatory adjustments (counter-current heat exchange); and reduced appendages, and large size to prevent heat loss. [32] Marine mammals are able to dive for long periods.
Most marine mammals usually dive within their aerobic dive limits as this minimises the recovery period at or near the surface, and allows a greater total time to be spent underwater, but a few species, including some beaked whales, routinely dive for periods requiring anaerobic metabolism that develops a significant oxygen debt requiring a ...
Cuvier's beaked whale holds the records for both the deepest and the longest dives ever documented for any mammal; [24] in 2014, scientists reported that Cuvier's beaked whale, off the coast of California, dove to 9,816 ft (2,992 m) below the ocean's surface, becoming the deepest documented dive for any mammal.
Sea lions lack this, but have very sensitive underwater directional hearing and exceptional vision in low-light conditions. Both of these species are trainable and capable of repetitive deep diving. As of the late 1990s, about 140 marine mammals were part of the program. [1]
Marine iguanas are among the world's most unusual creatures. Specially adapted to one of the most harsh and unforgiving environments on earth, they live on lava rock beaches in the Galapagos Islands.
They can hold their breath for more than 100 minutes [17] [18] – longer than any other noncetacean mammal. Elephant seals dive to 1,550 m (5,090 ft) beneath the ocean's surface [17] (the deepest recorded dive of an elephant seal is 2,388 m (7,835 ft) by a southern elephant seal, while the record for the northern elephant seal is 1,735 m ...
The diving reflex is exhibited strongly in aquatic mammals, such as seals, [1] [4] otters, dolphins, [5] and muskrats, [6] and exists as a lesser response in other animals, including human babies up to 6 months old (see infant swimming), and diving birds, such as ducks and penguins. [1]