While humans haven't evolved to be able to hold their breath for long periods of time, there are plenty of mammals who have.
It's become an adaptation for mammals such as dolphins, who spend extended amounts of time in the water, often allowing them to hunt, play and even sleep underwater. It's also been observed that hippos are capable of sleeping underwater and can float to the surface for air without waking up. But which mammal olds the record for holding its breath for the longest?
Which mammal can hold its breath for the longest?
Cuvier’s beaked whales feed mostly on deep-sea cephalopods and in 2020 an individual was recorded making a dive that lasted 222 minutes – the best part of four hours.
They are, in turn, preyed upon by orca and may dive so deep and for so long to keep out of range of their predators.
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