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Journal article
Evidence for control of cutaneous oxygen uptake in the Yellow-Lipped Sea Krait Laticauda colubrina
Journal of herpetology, Vol.50, pp.621-626
50
2016
Web of Science ID: WOS:000391818900017
Abstract
Some sea snakes and sea kraits (family Elapidae) can dive for upward of two hours while foraging or feeding, largely because they are able to absorb a significant percentage of their oxygen demand across their skin surfaces. Although cutaneous oxygen uptake is a common adaptation in marine elapids, whether its uptake can be manipulated in response to conditions that might alter metabolic rate is unclear. Our data strongly suggest that Yellow-Lipped Sea Kraits, Laticauda colubrina (Schneider, 1799), can modify cutaneous uptake in response to changing pulmonary oxygen saturation levels.When exposed to stepwise 20% decreases in aerial oxygen saturation from 100% to 40%, Yellow-Lipped Sea Kraits spent more time emerged but breathed less frequently. A significant graded increase in cutaneous uptake was seen between 100% and 60% saturation, likely attributable to subcutaneous capillary recruitment. The additional increase in oxygen uptake between 60% and 40% was not significant, indicating capillary recruitment is likely complete at pulmonary saturations of 60%. During a pilot trial, a single Yellow-Lipped Sea Krait exposed to an aerial saturation of 25% became severely stressed after 20 min, suggesting a lower saturation tolerance level between 40% and 25% for the species. Reducing subcutaneous perfusion could optimize swimming performance during foraging, whereas redirecting blood to skin surfaces would maximize dive times when subduing prey or avoiding aerial predators.
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Details
- Title
- Evidence for control of cutaneous oxygen uptake in the Yellow-Lipped Sea Krait Laticauda colubrina
- Publication Details
- Journal of herpetology, Vol.50, pp.621-626
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; Athens, OH
- Series
- 50
- Copyright
- 2016 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
- Identifiers
- WOS:000391818900017; 99380090315006600
- Academic Unit
- Public Health
- Language
- English