How do whales breathe underwater or if they how can stay for such a long time?

Whales don't breathe underwater! They are mammals, just like us, and need to breathe air to survive. Here's how they manage to stay submerged for such long periods:

* Lungs: Whales have large, powerful lungs that can hold a lot of air.

* Efficient Oxygen Use: Their bodies are incredibly efficient at using oxygen, allowing them to conserve it while underwater.

* Slow Heart Rate: When diving, whales' heart rates slow down significantly, reducing their oxygen consumption.

* Blood Storage: They have a special type of blood that can store more oxygen than human blood.

* Myoglobin: Whale muscles contain high levels of myoglobin, a protein that helps store oxygen.

* Blood Shunting: When diving, their bodies direct blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart, minimizing oxygen use in other areas.

How long they can stay underwater varies greatly by species:

* Sperm whales: Can dive for up to 90 minutes.

* Cuvier's beaked whales: Hold the record for the longest mammal dive, over 3 hours.

* Other whales: Most baleen whales stay underwater for 10-20 minutes, while smaller whales like dolphins might only stay submerged for 3-5 minutes.

Important to remember: While whales are adapted to hold their breath for long periods, they still need to come to the surface to breathe. They do this regularly, and sometimes you can see them "blowing" water out of their blowholes as they exhale.