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Can turtles breathe through their skin?

Best Answers

The Australian White-throated snapping turtle, also called the "bum-breathing turtle" can get nearly 70% of its oxygen through its cloacal bursae, or butt. Unfortunately this species is critically endangered and may not be around long. No matter how you shake it, turtles are amazing survivors.Feb 2, 2015 read more

All turtles breathe air with their lungs. Additionally, Aquatic respiration in Australian freshwater turtles is currently being studied. Some species have large cloacal cavities that are lined with many finger-like projections. These projections, called papillae, have a rich blood supply, and increase the surface area of the cloaca. read more

Nature has a juvenile sense of humor. That, at first, seems like the only explanation for why certain turtles, among them the Australian Fitzroy river turtle and the North American eastern painted turtle, breathe through the back end. Both turtles can breathe through their mouths if they so chose. read more

In some turtle species, such as the eastern painted turtle, the cloaca has a high density of blood vessels, allowing the turtle to absorb oxygen from the water through the skin. Some species, such as the musk turtle, can absorb oxygen into the blood vessels in the throat cavity. read more