How does a whale hold its breath?

A whale holds its breath by having special adaptations that allow it to store oxygen and slow down its metabolism while underwater. These adaptations include:

Large lungs: Whales have much larger lungs than humans, allowing them to store more oxygen before diving.

High hemoglobin concentration: The blood of whales has a higher concentration of hemoglobin than human blood, allowing it to carry more oxygen molecules.

Myoglobin: Whale muscles contain a protein called myoglobin, which can store oxygen for use during dives.

Slower metabolism: When a whale dives, its metabolism slows down significantly, conserving oxygen.

Efficient circulation: Whales have a very efficient circulatory system that allows them to deliver oxygen rapidly to their organs and muscles.

The adaptations listed above are what allow whales to survive without breaking during their dives. Some whale species can even hold their breath for over an hour at a time.