The animal kingdom is a truly fascinating (and sometimes disgusting) place. For example, koalas eat their mothers’ poop until they’re about six months old. Male anglerfish fuse to much-larger females and become part of their circulatory systems during mating. But is it true? Do turtles breathe out of their behinds?
The short answer is not technically. However, in certain environmental conditions, turtles can breathe out of their cloaca, which is the orifice where eggs, urine, and feces come out. They do this during brumation, a somewhat similar state to hibernation.
Turtles Can Rely on “Cloacal Respiration”
Picture this. It’s the dead of winter, and you’re a box turtle. As temperatures drop, so does your metabolism because you’re a cold-blooded reptile, and the elements dictate your bodily function. As the days pass, you enter a state of brumation. It’s different than hibernation in that rather than become completely inactive, you still drink water and maintain some of your mobility.
Unfortunately, during these unideal conditions, it becomes hard for you, the hypothetical turtle, to get adequate oxygenation by breathing. PBS News Hour explains that’s because during the winter, oxygen levels in bodies of water can decrease. While some turtles can survive in low-oxygen water bodies, many can’t.
So, in the name of survival, your body will shift gears, and you’ll get precious oxygen by moving water over the sensitive blood vessels in your cloaca. It’s not the same process as breathing with a set of lungs, but it’ll get the job done and help you survive the brutal winter.
Pet Turtles Have Little Need for Cloacal Respiration
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll have to deal with reptilian butt-breathing if you have a pet turtle. That’s because its conditions in captivity should remain relatively stable. The water’s temperature should correspond with your turtle’s natural habitat, and they should have access to food throughout all four seasons. There would be no need for cloacal respiration if your turtle is getting adequate oxygen through its water and the air it breathes.
However, as a responsible pet owner, you should be able to recognize the signs of stress in your turtle. That way, you can alter its living conditions as necessary. These indicators can include:
- Excessive hiding
- Loss of appetite
- Aggression toward other animals in the enclosure (such as small fish)
- Retracting into its shell
- Gaping
- Abnormal movements
If you suspect that your pet turtle is stressed, first test their tank’s water to ensure its parameters are stable. You may also consider moving the tank to a quieter area or cleaning the enclosure.
Other Animals Breathe from Their Behinds
Turtles aren’t the only animals that rely on cloacal respiration. According to the Will County Forest Preserve District, salamanders and frogs also use this process to survive harsh winters. Other animals that breathe through their butts include:
- Baby dragonflies. Dragonflies start as water-dwelling larvae, resembling small tadpoles. Not only will they breathe from their mini cloaca, but they’ll also squirt water from the orifice to propel themselves forward, helping them dodge predators.
- Sea cucumbers. Sea cucumbers can breathe through their feet, skin, and cloaca. According to SciShow, when they feel threatened, they shoot out “sticky tubes” that stun their predators. Enough of these organs remain inside the animal so it doesn’t die.
Turtles Rely on Lungs to Breathe—Not Gills
While turtles spend most of their lives in water, they have a set of lungs just like any other land-dwelling reptile. How long a turtle can hold its breath depends on, well, the turtle. For example, sea turtles generally surface every few minutes for air. Yet, when they’re resting, they may remain underwater for two hours.
If you’re getting a pet turtle, know that they need an enclosure with both a land and water portion. A turtle that’s exclusively in water could drown from exhaustion as it constantly fights for oxygen. You should get a paludarium, which is also called an “aquaterrarium”. These enclosures have space for turtles to fully submerge themselves in water, while also offering a land area where they can bask and rest. Other supplies you’ll need to help your pet turtle thrive include UVB lighting, food and water dishes, and places for them to hide, such as under rocks or in hollowed-out logs.
More Fun Facts About Turtles
There are so many fascinating things to know about turtles. For instance, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
- The temperature of the sand around a nest determines the turtles’ gender. Cooler sand produces male hatchlings, hotter sand produces more female hatchlings. The fear is that with climate change, sand worldwide will get hotter, leading to a disparity ratio between male and female turtles.
- While turtles are not nocturnal animals, they generally lay their eggs at night. This is to prevent predators (like seagulls) from attacking hatchlings or attempting to disturb the nest. You should never disturb a sea turtle’s nest! In many places, you could face fines and civil penalties if caught by authorities.
- Turtles have amazing longevity, with some able to live decades without major health problems. Turtles themselves have been around since the age of the dinosaurs, with the loggerhead turtle dating back millions of years.
As noted, a stressed-out turtle may hide in its shell. Unfortunately, sea turtles cannot do this. They must tackle the ocean’s unknowns head-on!
