Do Ants Have Lungs?
Ants don’t have lungs. Instead, they breathe through a tracheal respiratory system which features holes on their exoskeletons called spiracles and the trachea, a network of tubes that branch and distribute oxygen throughout their bodies.
In this article we’ll discuss how ants breathe and understand why they don’t have lungs.
What Are Lungs?
Lungs are a pair of vital breathing organs responsible for adding oxygen to and removing carbon dioxide from the bloodstream. They are a major organ in the respiratory system of vertebrates, but are usually uncommon in invertebrates like ants.
How Do Ants Breathe?
If ants don’t have lungs, how do they breathe?
Well, ants breathe through a tracheal system, wherein a network of tubes called trachea, deliver oxygen directly to the cells of their bodies.
In this system, the air enters and exits the ant’s body through spiracles, tiny holes on their exoskeletons which allow for the passive diffusion of gas.
Each of these spiracles are connected directly to tiny tubes called tracheae which branch throughout the whole ant body. Consequently these branches are also connected to special cells called tracheoles where oxygen is dissolved and eventually diffused into the adjacent cells.
After they respire, carbon dioxide, the waste product of cellular respiration, goes through the process in the reverse order. It first diffuses out of the cell, passes through the tracheal system, and before eventually getting released through the spiracles.
Why Don’t Ants Have Lungs?
Ants don’t have lungs because they never had the evolutionary need to grow them. With their size, a tracheal respiratory system already provides them with an energy efficient and passive means to respire.
Growing lungs would just cost them an immense amount of energy and resources, especially since their bodies don’t have many of the required structures. For one, ants don’t have blood, so what’s to transfer oxygen to the cells?
Also, ants are just too small to accommodate lungs and all the necessary parts that come along with it. That said, research suggests that ants are possibly small due to the fact that they aren’t capable of intaking large doses of oxygen with their tracheal system. Should ants somehow increase their size suddenly, the tracheal system would most likely fail to bring oxygen to all cells in the body.
So there’s somewhat of a chicken and egg scenario. In order to grow bigger, ants may need to grow lungs or at least develop their current respiratory system. But to do so, they should also be big enough to accommodate the necessary changes.
Related Questions
Do Ants Need Oxygen?
Yes, ants do need oxygen. As animals, ants respire aerobically and therefore need oxygen to fuel their metabolic princesses and survive. Without it, their cells become deprived of energy and eventually die.
Can Ants Suffocate?
It’s unlikely for ants to suffocate under normal conditions as they rely on passive diffusion to breathe. But insect repellants and soapy water can block their spiracles and prevent them from taking in oxygen.
Can Ants Breathe Underwater?
No, ants can’t breathe underwater as water fills-up and clogs their spiracles. In fact, when ants are submerged underwater, they close their spiracles to hold their breaths and live off stored oxygen.
Do Ants Have Blood?
Ants don’t have blood. Instead they have hemolymph, a circulatory fluid found in invertebrates analogous to the blood in vertebrates.
Summary: Do Ants Have Lungs?
Due to their size, ants aren’t able to accommodate lungs and a respiratory system like ours. Instead they have a tracheal respiratory system characterized by spiracles and tracheal branches that extend throughout their bodies. These branches can directly deliver oxygen to the cells, and bypasses the need for a transport system. Furthermore, the tracheal respiratory system relies on passive diffusion and therefore, provides ants with an energy-efficient way to respire.
