1 like 0 dislike
in General Factchecking by Apprentice (1.1k points)

They instead breathe through spiracles, nine or ten tiny openings, depending on the species.

4 Answers

0 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
selected by
 
Best answer

This is true, they don't use lungs to breathe. Like most insects, they take in oxygen through openings in their abdomens called spiracles. This allows sufficient oxygen to maintain their activity. For further information about this claim check out this article written by the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-185389,00.html#:~:text=No%20because%20they%20don't,oxygen%20to%20maintain%20their%20activity.

True
by Novice (780 points)
0 0
Thank you for including another source of information in your response, it is really helpful for allowing people to do their own research as well and see what you are talking abut
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (430 points)
After doing some digging, it became very clear that this claim is true! You can find information that supports this claim on several websites, some credible ones include The Guardian and Harvard Forest which is in Harvard University. Not only do several sources prove this, but you can also research an ants body diagram which shows all the organs inside the ants body. After looking at this, we can see there there are in fact no lungs but instead the "spiracles" as you suggested! So yes, your claim is true!

Here is the ants body diagram showing the various organs; https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fantark.net%2Fant-life%2Fant-anatomy%2Finternal-ant-anatomy%2F&psig=AOvVaw35Gxf4Yj2gUKIYI51apLKJ&ust=1731374599520000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLjmr5GP04kDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAQ
by Newbie (400 points)
0 0
This is a thorough and helpful fact check. It provides credible sources that back the information of the claim, and I think it's great that you did additional research to further prove the author's statement. I also appreciate that you provided a link for the reader to look at the diagram themself.
by Newbie (490 points)
0 0
After reading your answer, I was able to better understand what the claim was about, given the informations through your further research, which was helpful to me, after including other resources with which I could verify whether the claim was true or not. Thank you!
by Newbie (360 points)
0 0
Your fact-check is spot on! The claim about ants not having lungs and breathing through spiracles is indeed true. Credible sources like The Guardian and Harvard Forest back this up. Your additional research, including the ant body diagram, clearly shows the absence of lungs and the presence of spiracles. Great job verifying the claim with reliable sources and detailed evidence. Great work!
by Newbie (460 points)
0 0
This is an excellent fact-check and straightforward answer; after reading it, I was much more informed about it.  I like how you used credible sources and linked them in your answer for us to check out. Thank you for this answer; good work!
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (320 points)
After doing some outside research, I found out that this claim is true. They actually have tiny holes in their body called spiracles where they breathe oxygen through and release out carbon dioxide. They can actually survive about two hours without oxygen which proves this claim to be true because people with lungs cannot survive two hours without oxygen. An article that proves this is by the BBC Science Focus section listed below:

https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/how-do-ants-breathe
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
0 0
This is a very well put together factcheck! I enjoyed how you not only just explained how they breathe but also went further to articulate how long they can breathe for without oxygen. The source you linked was also a very good example of a credible source as they focus deeply on science and it went into heavy detail.
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (250 points)

After doing some research and digging, it has become apparent that this claim is true, ants do not have lungs. According to How do ants breathe? and Do Ants have Lungs? (The Scientific Answer) – Fauna Facts ants do not have lungs but instead their respiratory system consists of a series of tubes known as spiracles to produce oxygen to their body. An overwhelming majority of sources confirm this claim including many credible research organizations.

True

Community Rules


Be respectful.

There is bound to be disagreement on a site about misinformation. Assume best intentions on everyone's part.

If you are new to factchecking, take some time to learn about it. "How to Factcheck" has some resources for getting started. Even if you disagree with these materials, they'll help you understand the language of this community better.

News Detective is for uncovering misinformation and rumors. This is not a general interest question-answer site for things someone could Google.

Posting

The title is the "main claim" that you're trying to factcheck.

Example:
Factcheck This: Birds don't exist

If possible, LINK TO to the place you saw the claim.

Answering

LINK TO YOUR EVIDENCE or otherwise explain the source ("I called this person, I found it in this book, etc.")

But don't just drop a link. Give an explanation, copy and paste the relevant information, etc.

News Detective is not responsible for anything anyone posts on the platform.
...