Question

Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. in adult humans, hematocrit is roughly 40-45%, but it can be much higher or lower in other animals. consider the weddell seal, a mammal that can dive and hold its breath underwater for upwards of 80 minutes. what is the hematocrit level of a weddell seal, and why

Answer 1

The hematocrit levels of a weddell seal ranging between 50-70%, twice as much a human being, which means an weddell seals blood is able to hold more oxygen in it's cells, giving them the ability to hold it's breath for 80 minutes, due to a prolonged exposure to the sea.