Dolphin v Sloth - Breath Holding

Q: Who can hold their breath longer, a Dolphin or a Sloth?

A: A Sloth

Who Can Hold Their Breath Longer: A Dolphin or a Sloth?

When you think of animals that can hold their breath for a long time, dolphins might come to mind first. After all, they are marine mammals that need to surface for air. But what if I told you that the surprisingly slow-moving sloth gives dolphins a run for their money?

Dolphins, depending on the species, can typically hold their breath for about 8 to 15 minutes, with some exceptional individuals reaching up to 20 minutes. They have evolved efficient oxygen usage, allowing them to dive deep and stay underwater while hunting or avoiding predators.

Sloths, on the other hand, don’t seem like natural breath-holding champions. However, their low metabolism and ability to slow their heart rate allow them to hold their breath for an astonishing 40 minutes! When submerged, sloths can reduce their heart rate by up to one-third, conserving oxygen and stretching their underwater endurance far beyond what you’d expect.

So, while dolphins are undoubtedly more agile swimmers, the sloth takes the crown for holding its breath the longest. Nature always has a way of surprising us!

Would you have guessed that?