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Nov 28, 2012

How does the breath-holding capability of a human compare with other mammals?


Mammal
Average time in minutes
Human
1
Polar bear
1.5
Pearl diver (human)
2.5
Sea otter
5
Platypus
10
Muskrat
12
Hippopotamus
15
Sea cow       
16
Beaver
20
Porpoise
15
Seal
15 to 28
Greenland whale
60
Sperm whale
90
Bottlenose whale
120
(The Handy Science Answer Book, compiled by the Science and Technology department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh)