Which animal can breathe through its skin?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

There are several animals that can breathe through their skin, including frogs, salamanders, and some species of turtles. This process, known as cutaneous respiration, allows these animals to absorb oxygen through their skin directly into their bloodstream, which is particularly useful when they are underwater or in environments with low oxygen levels.

For example, frogs and salamanders rely heavily on cutaneous respiration during their larval stage when they are aquatic and have gills, as well as in adulthood when they live on land and their lungs are not as effective. Some species of turtles also have the ability to breathe through their skin when they are hibernating underwater in winter.

However, cutaneous respiration has its limitations. The amount of oxygen that can be absorbed through the skin is limited, and the animal's skin must remain moist for it to work effectively. Additionally, pollutants and other environmental factors can impair an animal's ability to breathe through its skin, which can be detrimental to their health and survival.