Question

Like other birds, emperor penguins use their lungs to

breathe air. Emperor penguins hunt for fish, squid,
and other food underwater. When an emperor
penguin dives into the water, it can hold its breath for
as long as 20 minutes.
What happens to the air that an emperor penguin breathes in? Select all that apply.
The air travels through passageways to all parts of the body.
In the lungs, oxygen from the air is absorbed into the blood.
The air travels through passageways to the lungs.

Answer 1

When an emperor penguin breathes in, the air travels through passageways to the lungs, where the oxygen from the air is absorbed into the blood. This allows the penguin to hold its breath for as long as 20 minutes while hunting for fish, squid, and other food underwater. However, the penguin's respiratory system contains lungs, just like other air-breathing animals, as well as air sacs, which are a common trait among birds. The air sacs function to help regulate the temperature of the penguin and aid in buoyancy control while diving. Therefore, the oxygen taken in by the penguin is used to sustain its bodily functions while underwater and is not released back into the atmosphere when it exhales.