Animalscaretips
They breathe with GILLS, flaps of skin on both sides of their heads or in their mouths. When water flows into their mouths and out through their gills, their red blood cells absorb the oxygen. Yet oxygen in water is far scarcer than on land, so they have to swim around to get enough oxygen-rich water.
What helps animals breathe underwater?
Gills are feathery organs full of blood vessels. A fish breathes by taking water into its mouth and forcing it out through the gill passages. As water passes over the thin walls of the gills, dissolved oxygen moves into the blood and travels to the fish's cells.
How do deep sea animals breathe?
These whales breathe air, but their lungs are collapsible, so they don't get crushed when the whales dive into the deep sea for almost two hours at a time. When diving, these whales store the oxygen from the air they breathe in their blood and muscles.
