How do marine animals survive under water?
Fish living closer to the surface of the ocean may have a swim bladder – that's a large organ with air in it, which helps them float up or sink down in the water. Deep sea fish don't have these air sacs in their bodies, which means they don't get crushed.
Whales and other ocean mammals lack gills. Instead, they come to the surface to breathe oxygen-rich air with their lungs. Mudskippers climb out of the water for long periods by carrying a supply of water in a pouch around their gills. Like most fishes, they can also breathe oxygen through their skin, even underwater.
Instead of mitochondria, which rely on oxygen, the creatures have organelles that resemble hydrogenosomes, which some single-celled organisms use to produce energy-storing molecules anaerobically.
The oxygen released by photosynthesis of aquatic autotrophs get dissolved into water. This dissolved oxygen is used by aquatic plants and animals for respiration. Q. The animals breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen in the process of respiration.
This is because they have lungs for breathing rather than gills. So, they are not able to inhale the oxygen dissolved in the water and intake the oxygen from the atmosphere.
Aquatic animals survive because of the dissolved oxygen in water.
In order to remove oxygen from the water, they rely on special organs called "gills." Gills are feathery organs full of blood vessels. A fish breathes by taking water into its mouth and forcing it out through the gill passages.
Aquatic animals use their gills for extracting oxygen in water. Some aquatic animals may even use their skin for extracting oxygen from water.
Fish take water into their mouth, passing the gills just behind its head on each side. Dissolved oxygen is absorbed from—and carbon dioxide released to—the water, which is then dispelled. The gills are fairly large, with thousands of small blood vessels, which maximizes the amount of oxygen extracted.
The surface layers of the ocean gener- ally obtain oxygen from diffusion and brisk circulation. This water sinks to the seafloor, supplying oxygen to deep-sea life. But sluggish circulation and oxy- gen-poor source waters can reduce oxy- gen concentrations at intermediate depths.
How do deep sea creatures not get crushed by pressure?
Without gas-filled spaces like lungs or swim bladders, organisms in the great deep are less affected by pressure than we imagine. Some ocean species perform vertical migrations of 1,000 meters each day, experiencing a 100-atmosphere range of pressures with no harmful effects.
When the water doesn't have oxygen, they suffocate, just like humans suffocate when we don't breathe enough oxygen. So, while a fish can't die from drowning in water, it can die from suffocating in water due to a lack of oxygen.

An aquarium fish can stay up to two days without oxygen (in still water) but they still need some more amount of oxygen to breathe and do their essential daily work.
Solution : Oxygen and carbon dioxide are soluble in water. Animals and plants can utilize these dissolved gases for respiration and photosynthesis, and hence can survive in water.
From the above explanation, we can understand that aquatic plants and animals obtain oxygen from the atmosphere.
Breathing in whales is “conscious”; the function of breathing in these animals is under the voluntary control of the central nervous system (CNS). Whales choose to come up to the surface to breath in the same way that we make a conscious decision to eat so that we don't starve!
As oxygen levels in water drop, the behavior and growth of fish and other ocean organisms is affected — a lack of oxygen can make them more susceptible to disease, or make it more difficult to reproduce. In extreme cases, they can suffocate.
Goldfish and their wild crucian carp relatives can survive for five months without breathing oxygen – and now we know how. The fish have evolved a set of enzymes that, when oxygen levels drop, ultimately helps convert carbohydrates into alcohol that can then be released through the gills.
- Streamlined, spindle-shaped body which is covered with scales. ...
- Skeleton is made up of thin bones with the flexible backbone.
- Flat fins and tails to help them swim, change direction and to keep the body balanced.
Dolphins can slow down their circulatory system's blood flow and heart rate to conserve the energy and oxygen needed to stay underwater. When using their blowholes to take in oxygen, the water sitting on the surface sprays into the air.
How do animals survive without water short answer?
To survive in the dry climes of the American West, its kidneys generate super-concentrated urine, and it doesn't pant or sweat. Some species can even lower their metabolic rates so they lose less moisture through breathing.
You can add oxygen to your tank by slowly pouring water into it from some height above. The water will pick up air en route as well as drive oxygen into the tank water.
Marine animals are able to survive in the water without air contact because of (b) the take oxygen from the water. They are able to do this because of gill, which take dissolved oxygen out of water.
Sharks don't have lungs, but they do have to breathe oxygen to survive. Instead of breathing air, though, sharks get oxygen from the water that surrounds them.
Aquatic animals may breathe air or extract oxygen from that dissolved in water through specialised organs called gills, or directly through the skin. Natural environments and the animals that live in them can be categorized as aquatic (water) or terrestrial (land).
For effective swimming the animal controls its buoyancy and has a propulsion system able to compete with the resistance of water movements. Many invertebrates, especially mollusks, propel themselves by water jets; others use undulatory movements of their soft parts.
Whales and dolphins are mammals and breathe air into their lungs, just like we do. They cannot breathe underwater like fish can as they do not have gills.
Humans cannot breathe underwater because our lungs do not have enough surface area to absorb enough oxygen from water, and the lining in our lungs is adapted to handle air rather than water.
Unlike land animals, which have lungs to take in oxygen from the air, fish have gills to breathe in the oxygen contained in water. This process of breathing begins when a fish gulps water through its mouth.
The simple answer: can fish drown? Yes, fish can 'drown'–for lack of a better word. Though, it is better to think of it as a form of suffocation where oxygen levels are too low or the fish isn't able to properly pull oxygen from the water for one reason or another.
Where do sea water fishes get their supply of oxygen?
Gills are branching organs located on the side of fish heads that have many, many small blood vessels called capillaries. As the fish opens its mouth, water runs over the gills, and blood in the capillaries picks up oxygen that's dissolved in the water.
As well as getting water through osmosis, saltwater fish need to purposefully drink water in order to get enough into their systems. Where their freshwater counterparts direct all of the water that comes into their mouths out through their gills, saltwater fish direct some into their digestive tract.
Nerves, brain structure, brain chemistry and behaviour – all evidence indicates that, to varying degrees, fish can feel pain, fear and psychological stress.
Answer: There are several ways deep-ocean animals survive in such an environment. First off, the deep ocean is dark because sunlight can't penetrate very far into the water. Many animals make their own light, called bioluminescence, to communicate, find mates, scare predators, or attract prey.
Whales have unique adaptations that allow them to go on long dives. They are capable of collapsing their lungs during dives to prevent damage from the increasing pressure. To further protect their collapsing lung, they have a jointed rib cage that allows their thoracic cavity to collapse with their lungs.
Soaking in Salt
So fish need to drink lots of seawater to stay hydrated. And because seawater is so salty, they also must pump out the excess salt, both through their kidneys and using specialized cells in their gills.
The differences in acidity and dissolved oxygen, not to mention all of the fat, proteins, carbohydrates, and other minerals in the milk that might clog the creature's gills, would quickly spell trouble. The animal would likely die within minutes, if not sooner.
So, while most sharks will be 100% fine if they stop swimming, a few iconic species such as great white sharks, whale sharks, hammerheads and mako sharks would suffocate without forward motion or a strong current flowing towards their mouths.
“They survive just fine under the ice,” says Jake Vander Zanden, Director of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Limnology. “They are adapted to survive in these low temperatures; it's not that big of a deal.”
Some species, such as tuna or salmon, are designed for high speed swimming, and thrive in fast flowing water. Others, such as pufferfish, are not so well equipped to handle the challenges of living in high flow environments, and prefer the peace and calm of sheltered lagoons. But even good swimmers have their limits.
Can fish live in standing water?
Stagnant Ponds Have Less Oxygen
When a pond becomes stagnant, the oxygen levels can drop, and this can lead to fish kills. Even with ponds not stocked with fish, low oxygen levels accelerate the growth of floating organic matter and can cause terrible odors.
A fish live without a filter for a maximum of seven days and a minimum of three days. A filter helps clean the water over and over again, so the toxins in it don't settle down. But that doesn't make the filter a necessity for fish survival.
Aquatic plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. The most common adaptation is the presence of lightweight internal packing cells, aerenchyma, but floating leaves and finely dissected leaves are also common.
Ocean water contains dissolves gases like oxygen which enables large numbers of plants, fishes and other animals to live in water without air.
To keep warm in the ocean, most marine mammals depend on a thick layer of blubber (or fat); although some, like fur seals and sea otters, rely on their thick fur coats. Many marine mammal species can stay underwater for a long time, but must come to the surface to breathe.
Aquatic animals use the oxygen dissolved in water for respiration. A majority of aquatic animals like fish and prawns breathe through special organs called gills. Gills are projections of the skin that help in using oxygen dissolved in water.
Every animal that lives in a body of water needs to have some amount of oxygen to survive. When oxygen levels become too low, hypoxia will occur, which results in the development of various species of algae. If there's no oxygen in the water, anoxia will occur.
Instead of breathing air, fish must get their oxygen from the water. This process requires large volumes of water to pass through absorption surfaces to get enough oxygen into their bodies using their mouths and gills. These body parts work like a pump to keep water moving over the gas absorption surfaces of the gills.
In order to remove oxygen from the water, they rely on special organs called "gills." Gills are feathery organs full of blood vessels. A fish breathes by taking water into its mouth and forcing it out through the gill passages.
The molecule found in cells that produces the protective effect against high external pressure is called TMAO - trimethylamine N-oxide. Studies have shown that the amount of TMAO in ocean-dwelling organisms increases in line with the depth of their habitat.
How do aquatic animals like fish get oxygen required for breathing?
Aquatic animals use their gills for extracting oxygen in water. Some aquatic animals may even use their skin for extracting oxygen from water.
Aquatic animals use the oxygen dissolved in water for respiration. A majority of aquatic animals like fish and prawns breathe through special organs called gills. Gills are projections of the skin that help in using oxygen dissolved in water.
Goldfish and their wild crucian carp relatives can survive for five months without breathing oxygen – and now we know how. The fish have evolved a set of enzymes that, when oxygen levels drop, ultimately helps convert carbohydrates into alcohol that can then be released through the gills.
Because their gills have so much surface area for water to pass over, they're able to get enough oxygen to survive despite the relative lack of oxygen in water compared to air.
In fact, the team found that the fish have a mutation in the primary gene responsible for calcification, the buildup of calcium to harden the bones. This mutation renders the gene partially nonfunctional. Wang says this makes their bones more flexible and likely more able to withstand pressure.
Fish take water into their mouth, passing the gills just behind its head on each side. Dissolved oxygen is absorbed from—and carbon dioxide released to—the water, which is then dispelled. The gills are fairly large, with thousands of small blood vessels, which maximizes the amount of oxygen extracted.
The primary aspect that gives sharks and rays buoyancy is a large liver filled with low-density oil (870 to 880 grams per litre at room temperature).
"Although they live in the water, marine mammals like whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions, as well as reptiles like sea turtles, need to breathe air. "So while they spend their life swimming in the ocean, they must still come to the surface of the water from time to time to take a breath of air."
This is because most things living in the deep ocean are largely water and water is incompressible. Without gas-filled spaces like lungs or swim bladders, organisms in the great deep are less affected by pressure than we imagine.
They are capable of collapsing their lungs during dives to prevent damage from the increasing pressure. To further protect their collapsing lung, they have a jointed rib cage that allows their thoracic cavity to collapse with their lungs.