Why do crocodiles besides being reptilians have a completely partioned 4 chambered heart???
Why do crocodiles besides being reptilians have a completely partioned 4 chambered heart???
The crocodile has the most complicated blood circulation of all vertebrates. They do have four chambers in their heart yes as well as two ventricles which is very unusual in reptiles.
I expect crocodiles adapted to have a heart like this, because they evolved from smaller reptiles which don’t have a four chambered heart. Crocodiles would have had to adapt their hearts because they are an unusual reptile in that they spend a lot of their time in water. Their special heart is a good adaptation for living in water because it means that when the crocodile is underwater it’s heart rate can slow right down to one or two beats per minute. This helps reduce blood flow and save oxygen. Then when the crocodile comes back above water it’s heart rate speeds right up to normal speed again within a matter of seconds.
The crocodile has the most complicated blood circulation of all vertebrates. They do have four chambers in their heart yes as well as two ventricles which is very unusual in reptiles.
I expect crocodiles adapted to have a heart like this, because they evolved from smaller reptiles which don’t have a four chambered heart. Crocodiles would have had to adapt their hearts because they are an unusual reptile in that they spend a lot of their time in water. Their special heart is a good adaptation for living in water because it means that when the crocodile is underwater it’s heart rate can slow right down to one or two beats per minute. This helps reduce blood flow and save oxygen. Then when the crocodile comes back above water it’s heart rate speeds right up to normal speed again within a matter of seconds.
