10 longest animal apneas in the world

The best static freediver in the world is named Goran Colak and is from Croatia. He clocked 22 minutes and 32 seconds underwater. This record is exceptional for mankind but we can find in the animal kingdom other specialists in the field.

N°10 Hippopotamus and beaver

15 min

Hippo can weigh more than 4 tons. The fact that it has no sweat glands makes it very vulnerable to heat, which is why it spends most of its day in water. This animal is considered as dangerous to humans because it charge every person appearing on its territory. On the other side, the beaver is exclusively herbivorous and cecotrope which means it digests twice its food , swallowing his soft droppings. The beaver built a hut with an underwater access.

N°9 Emperor penguin and Magellanic penguin

18 min

Penguins can dive up to 265 meters underwater, and that for 18 minutes. They are equipped with special air bags that protect the lungs against the effects of pressure.

© Christopher Michel

N°8 Man

22 min 32 seconds

Read the introduction

© Daan Verhoeven

N°7 Humpback whale, Blue Whale and Killer Whale

30 min

The blue whale is the largest animal alive that can exceed 30 meters long and weigh nearly 180 tons. This species of whale was near extinction before being protected by the international community. Well known for its spectacular out of water jumps, the humpback whale is also known for these long complex songs they emit for hours. The humpback whale and the blue whale have a unique predator: the killer whale which often attack them in groups. The orca has a diverse diet attacking all kinds of prey: sea lions, seals, fishes, walruses, whales, sharks or birds …

© Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Photo Library Robert Pittman

N°6 Cockroach

45 min

The cockroach is truly an exceptional insect. They appeared 400 million years on Earth and they developed characteristics enabling them to withstand extreme environments. The cockroach can stay one month without eating or drinking and can survive 45 minutes underwater. 

N°5 Marine iguana

1 hour

Marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal on land but in the water, it’s an outstanding swimmer. They dive to feed on algae they find on rocks on which they cling to with long sharp claws.

N°4 Weddell seal and Elephant seal

1 hour 20 minutes

When the elephant seal dive, its heart rate slows down. It can go from 120 beats per minute on land to 4 underwater. This attribute allows it to reduce its O2 consumption and dive longer. 

N° 3 Sperm whale and saltwater crocodile

2 hours

Sperm whale while diving can lower the temperature of the fat contained in his head by penetrating water by his nasal passage. The oil inside its head becomes solid and promotes the descent. To warm it up, it just needs to remove the water. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species in the world and the heaviest living reptile on earth. This fearsome predator is able to swim to near 25km/h underwater and stay two hours motionless underwater.

N°2 Sea snake

4 hours

 
There are 62 species of sea snakes in the world. Most of them are found in warm coastal waters of the Indian Ocean or in the Pacific. Most sea snake species are venomous using their venom to immobilize their prey or defend themselves against potential predators. Some divers reported they’ve seen some specimens at depths of over 90 m.