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Incubator Q&A What would be the best way to breathe for a creature that shoots fire from its mouth?

I suggest some modes to pick in order to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined: Can just breathe normally: This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is res...

posted 3mo ago by Antares‭ · edited 3mo ago by Antares‭

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#5: Post edited by

Antares‭ · 2024-09-05T21:03:33Z (3 months ago)

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I suggest some modes to pick in order to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel our of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body. Maybe this is achieved by splitting the organs in a way that the final mixture of fuel is only created when sprayed outside the body into the air. "Come" chemical compound can then account for the retarded ignition.

I suggest some modes to pick in order to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel out of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body. Maybe this is achieved by splitting the organs in a way that the final mixture of fuel is only created when sprayed outside the body into and coming in contact with the air. "Some" chemical compound can then account for the retarded ignition.

#4: Post edited by

Antares‭ · 2024-09-05T21:00:25Z (3 months ago)

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~~I suggest some modes to pick to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:~~
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel our of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body. Maybe this is achieved by splitting the organs in a way that the final mixture of fuel is only created when sprayed outside the body into the air. "Come" chemical compound can then account for the retarded ignition.

I suggest some modes to pick in order to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel our of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body. Maybe this is achieved by splitting the organs in a way that the final mixture of fuel is only created when sprayed outside the body into the air. "Come" chemical compound can then account for the retarded ignition.

#3: Post edited by

Antares‭ · 2024-09-05T21:00:01Z (3 months ago)

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I suggest some modes to pick to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel our of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body.

I suggest some modes to pick to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel our of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body. Maybe this is achieved by splitting the organs in a way that the final mixture of fuel is only created when sprayed outside the body into the air. "Come" chemical compound can then account for the retarded ignition.

#2: Post edited by

Antares‭ · 2024-09-05T20:57:31Z (3 months ago)

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~~I suggest three modes of breathing. Some of which can be combined:~~
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
~~This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.~~

I suggest some modes to pick to adjust the breathing. Some of which can be combined:
**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.
**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.
This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:
**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).
This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.
**Fire ignites a little away from the head:** To further protect the head and other organs from the hot fire you can modify the organs so they are able to "spray" the fuel our of the mouth essentially. The ignition takes place a little retarded so the actual fire cone is not in touch with any of the body.

#1: Initial revision by

Antares‭ · 2024-09-05T20:52:59Z (3 months ago)

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I suggest three modes of breathing. Some of which can be combined:

**Can just breathe normally:** This would solely be based on the assumption that the whole organism is resistant to fire and well adapted so the nose/nostrils, lungs, etc. are also able to withstand high temperatures. In this case the creature would not suffer any restrictions.

**Closing the nostrils while fire breathing**: This is like if a land dwelling animal dives into water where it cannot breathe. Your creature is supposed to be heat resistant, so it does not take damage from own fire on the outside. Closing the nostrils thus seems to be a sensible way to do in order to protect the lungs from the incoming hot air.

This implies it would not take in air/breathe while using the fire ability. This might be shortening the fire breathing duration in unwanted ways maybe? Therefore:

**Creature size and blood storing oxygen:** Larger animals living on land but are apt divers (sea lions, manatees, hippos, crocodiles and so on) have the ability to store more oxygen in the blood than an average human can. This is the same principle that enables whales to dive about one or two hours without breathing air (therefore my question about size: The larger the animal the more plausible it gets to store more oxygen).

This could be combined with the "closing nostrils" suggestions, if the lungs are not supposed to be fire resistant.

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