During winter time, some snapping turtles like to hibernate in ponds and lakes. Safely tucked away underneath a thin layer of ice, these freshwater reptiles can survive up to six months without any oxygen to speak of.
How their bodies can cope with this depends on the way they were raised, it turns out. New research has revealed that when turtle embryos are exposed to low levels of oxygen, it programs their hearts to be more resilient to such conditions for the rest of their lives.
From the very start of their existence, it appears these incredible creatures are primed for a life of aquatic hypoxia. Developing in nests deep beneath the water, their embryos can sometimes be subject to as little as 11 percent oxygen, and this can permanently alter their cardiac structure and function.
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