Respiration in Dolphin

Respirationin Dolphins

Dolphin Respiratory system

Blowhole

A dolphin breathes through a single blowhole on the top surface of its head. The blowhole is covered by a muscular flap, which provides a watertight seal.

Respiration in Dolphins

A dolphin holds its breath while below water. The dolphin opens its blowhole and begins to exhale just before reaching the surface of the water. To open the blowhole, the dolphin contracts the muscular flap. At the surface, the dolphin quickly inhales and relaxes the muscular flap to close the blowhole

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During each respiration a dolphin exchanges 80% or more of its lung air. This is much more efficient than humans, who exchange only about 17% of their lung air with each breath.

Exhaling and inhaling takes about 0.3 seconds.

A dolphin's respiratory rate is about 1.5 to 4 respirations per minute.

The visible spout of water that often rises from a dolphin's blowhole is not coming from the lungs, which (like ours) do not tolerate water. Water that is on top of the blowhole when the powerful exhale begins is forced up with the exhaled respiratory gases. Especially in cool air, a mist may form; it is water vapor condensing as the respiratory gases expand in the open air.

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