North American River Otter's Respiratory System
The Importance of Oxygen
Oxygen proves itself to be one of the most important gases on our planet. All mammals require oxygen to survive. Oxygen is used as an energy source and every mammal requires a constant supply. The action of breathing aids organisms to have healthy and oxygen rich cells. Every animal needs to carry out the oxygen using process of cellular respiration. Hence, oxygen proves quite important in all mammals for survival processes.When oxygen enters the body it travels toward the blood stream and runs through the body. Breathing in causes oxygen to enter the body, while breathing out causes carbon dioxide to exit. Carbon dioxide left over in the body from the process of cellular respiration, is brought out of the body by exhaling. The gas exchange ,known as diffusion, between oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in the alveoli which are sacs in the lungs of an organism. The formula for cellular respiration is C6H12O6 + O2 -> CO2 H2O and energy. The energy made is in the form of ATP, a molecule that has stored energy in a bond between two phosphate groups. Overall, oxygen is a crucial necessity in an organisms life.
The Breathing Process
The North American River Otter's are aquatic animals. They live and survive in the water's of streams, marshes, and other wet areas. But like any other mammal, they need to breathe to gain oxygen. The river otter can hold its breath for up to eight minutes underwater so they might not need to breathe as often as other aquatic organisms. The river otter, unlike fish, cannot breathe underwater because of a lack of gills. So the otter raises it's head above the water to breathe. While swimming, when the otter needs oxygen it swims towards the water's surface and emerges with it's head and noise pointed upward for better vision and easier breathing. The main parts of the otters respiratory system are the windpipe, mouth, nose, and lungs. The mouth and nose are used to inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, the windpipe is what the gases go through to exit and enter the body and the lungs is where diffusion occurs.The diffusion process of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs more specifically in the alveoli inside the lungs. Interestingly, the river otter can hold its breath up to a lengthy eight minutes underwater. Also, in the winter when the water freezes over the river otter is still able to breathe because it cuts small holes in the ice to get its head above water level. Overall, the North American River Otter has a fascinating, well functioning respiratory system.
