The respiratory system of dolphins and lions
Dolphin inhale air through blowhole; dolphin do not use nostril like other mammals. Dolphin controls the opening and closing of blowhole through muscle contraction and relaxation. Blowhole which is an external opening takes air to the lungs. The blowhole is located at the tip of dolphin’s head which requires small area of water to be break to take the air. The air is then sent to lung for exchange. Unlike human lungs, dolphin lungs consists double levels of capillaries. Capillaries double layer increases the area of lungs which is resulted in increase in gas exchange rate and efficiency. Pulmonary tissues of dolphin are rich in myo-elastic fibers which provide better elasticity. Dolphin’s lungs exchange around 80 percent oxygen which provides more oxygen to the dolphin. The oxygen exchanged by the lung is transported through red blood cells. Dolphins contained higher amount of red blood cells which increased their capacity to hold or carry oxygen in significant manner.
Lion’s respiratory system is very similar to human respiratory system. Lions are hot blood animals and have two-way respiratory system. Muscles of diaphragm increase the expansion of lungs as well as thorax which allow more oxygen to enter into lungs. Lions inhale air which contains oxygen through their nostrils and mouth. Nostrils do not allow undesired particle to get entered in to respiratory track with the air. Their respiratory track is divided in two parts upper part is located outside of chest cavity whereas, lower part is located inside. Lower part contain pulmonary tissues hence conduct gas exchange mechanism. The oxygen gets absorbed by the hemoglobin of red blood cells. While transportation some amount of oxygen gets suspended in plasma. In lions low Ph, high temperature and carbon dioxide worked as a catalyst for oxygen diffusion.
