the Yak
- Challege: air is low in oxygen
- Strategy: increase oxygen intake
- How? extra large lungs
The yak is a mountain dweller that lives on the rocky plateaus of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 5,400m. It is a much better climber than man. But surviving in the high mountains, where the air contains less oxygen than it does at sea level, involves a lot more than being a good climber. What enables the yak to survive here is its specially adapted respiratory system.
The yak’s lungs are large compared with other cattle of the same size. Its chest has an extra pair of ribs to make room for them. Its windpipe is also bigger and more flexible, which enables it to breathe more quickly. With these adaptations it draws in a lot more air with every breath, and this is what supplies the oxygen it needs.
