Sea turtles can hold their breath for several hours, depending on their level of activity. They normally sit on the bottom of the lake, swamp, pond or whatever body of water. How do they do it? Mammals hibernate. Anonymous. A common misconception is that they spend the winter the way aquatic turtles do, dug into the mud at the bottom of a pond or stream. Natural Selections: How do turtles survive a winter underwater? But turtles who live where it gets cold and snowy have a way to keep themselves alive. It’s said that if you live in a a hardiness zone below 7 you should bring your turtles in over the winter months and house them in an indoor turtle tank. Because of their slow metabolisms and adaptations for extracting oxygen from the water, some species can even spend the entire winter underwater. Painted turtles have been tracked moving around under the ice via radio transmitters, and can occasionally be seen swimming under clear ice. Survival is furthermore threatened when turtles’ freshwater pond habitat freezes over. A turtle's trachea is elongated and flexible, allowing the turtle to move his head in and out of his shell. do turtles have gills? When winter comes sea turtles will do one of two things, they will either migrate to a warmer place, or they will hibernate. As its activity increases so That is, they do not take in oxygen through inhalation and exhalation. The way turtles survive the winter is rather complicated but can be simply explained. They can hibernate. 4 Answers. 0 0 0. Favorite Answer. ... turtles really can breathe through their butts. Turtles have some incredible biological tricks that help them survive conditions that will kill most other animals. Here's everything Continue Reading Login to reply the answers Post; … Some turtles live where it is warm all the time. Turtles have some incredible biological tricks that help them survive conditions that will kill most other animals. Rather, they absorb or take in oxygen through means other than just by their lungs. Resource Center > wildlife & ecology > plants, animals & ecology > animals > reptiles Pharyngeal breathing in softshell turtles . Unlike frogs, turtles don't hibernate through the winter. In northern latitudes ice may persist for up to four months. Well, as one researcher so eloquently put it, they breathe through their butts. Unlike frogs, turtles don't hibernate through the winter. Though all turtles breathe air, aquatic turtles such as sliders (Trachemys scripta) and painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) can stay underwater for quite some time. They are able to breathe through a couple of process. Box turtles bury themselves under leaves and soil to stay warm. Turtles that are used to living outdoors can survive the winter in your pond, just like koi and goldfish. The trachea splits near the heart into two bronchi that deliver air to the lungs, where it is absorbed into the body. In cold water during winter, when they are effectively hibernating, they can hold their breath for up to 10 hours. If they are sleeping, they can remain underwater for 4-7 hours. It probably is safe to assume other turtles do something similar. Turtles that are used to living outdoors can survive the winter in your pond, just like koi and goldfish. Yep. In a previous post I talked about the difference between hibernation and brumation in turtles. Like the second answer. Found in almost every part of the globe, some turtles can tolerate temperatures below freezing. how can a air breathing turtle hibernate in the mud under water.? How do turtles breathe in the winter? This is actually a hard question to answer. Burrows of gopher tortoises are up to 20 feet below the ground surface where temperatures do not reach freezing. Then every couple of hours or so they will stick their nose above the water for a breath of air. Outdoor Garden Ponds. Understanding what they do and need during winter is essential to their conservation and habitat protection, especially given that two-thirds of turtle species are at risk of extinction. Can Turtles Breathe Out Of Their Butt? While this means their body temperature changes with the environment, turtles can still survive the winter. An outdoor garden pond can be the best way to house aquatic pond turtles year around given your turtles species can adapt to your geographical region. Nature is weird. Well, as one researcher so eloquently put it, they breathe through their butts. "Painted turtles are most active from March to October. Breathing technique may be an important survival mechanism for species such as the Eastern painted turtle and the Australian Fitzroy river turtle.