Aquatic respiration in soft-shelled turtles, Trionyx sinensis

Abstract 1. 1. Forced submersion of three groups of soft-shelled turtles, Trionyx sinensis , were carried out in different seasons, at 16–18, 21–22 and 28–30°C, respectively. 2. 2. The mean values of the aquatic oxygen uptakes of three groups were 7.53, 11.11 and 12.34 ml/kg/hr correspondingly. 3. 3. The results of submersion tests also showed that the rates of rhythmic pharyngeal movement of these three groups of turtles were in accordance with the oxygen uptakes of the three. 4. 4. In body-divided submersion mode, the aquatic oxygen uptake of T. sinensis through buccopharyngeal respiration and cutaneous respiration was measured separately and simultaneously. The former accounted for 2 3 , while the latter only accounted for 1 3 of the total.