The contribution of non-pulmonary surfaces to CO 2 loss in 6 species of turtles at 20°C

Abstract

1. 1. Pulmonary and non-pulmonary CO 2 loss were measured simultaneously in 6 species of turtles at 20°C. 2. 2. The contribution of non-pulmonary surfaces to total CO 2 loss correlated with the normal habitats of the turtles; the highly aquatic soft shell, Trionyx mutica, lost about 64% of its CO 2 by non-pulmonary means, the terrestrial tortoise, Testudo dendriculata, lost only 2.9%, while the semi-aquatic species were intermediate. 3. 3. The reduced CO 2 loss by the terrestrial species is clearly related to integumental changes necessary to limit cutaneous evaporation.