[Free Trapper]

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011116.html

Sorry I can't link but that should take you to some info on "butt-breathers".Besides the turtle there's a little about dragonfly nymphs and sea cucumbers.

Aracelis,no educated person should be without a firm knowledge of "butt-breathing" turtles,so I pinged you on the slight chance you had missed out in your studies. ;)

[Aracelis]

However, I fear a misleading impression has been given that all turtles can do so--not true. A few "side-necked" turtles (like the Fitzroy River guy) can, but the vast majority of turtles either don't have cloacal bursae, or have them but can't use them for breathing. I reviewed all available evidence on the topic in a recent paper in the Journal of Experimental Zoology (see: Journal of Experimental Zoology), in which I also proved once and for all that, whatever turtles are doing with their butts, they cannot drink through them. Science marches on. --Chas Peterson, Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK

You're quite correct...my education was incomplete. :)

[ZULU]

I knew this about dragonfly nymphs. I also knew that certain turltes could do this, like the soft-shells (Amyda or Trionyx? They keep changing the genus). That other turtle they mentioned in your article is a new one to me. I never heard of it before. It seems its far better at it than softshells.

Turtles and dragonfly nymphs have a rather sedentary lifestyle. And most turtles use their lungs to breath just like you and me.

I guess Ichthyosaurs and Mosasaurs (which are supposedly closely realyed to modern day monitor lizrds) must have had a far more active lifestyle. At least their body shapes would so indicate.

Interesting stuff.

[PoorMuttly]

Y'know...so glad that this subject has been raised. Since Muttly was an even littler pup, and found out about this ability in others...he has been jealous.

Consider the possibilities! Eating without having to stop to breathe (a serious Muttly problem), endlessly digging perhaps with a butt snorkel, so for example, Muttly could securely bury his precious secret valuables from other Muttlys, even under and behind this annoyingly flooded flying saucer stuck into this mastodon deep under the birdbath in the back yard....