User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Hunter Theory... Blog/@comment-11075144-20130727180927

I remember a while ago there was a discussion on this site about whether or not Ceadeus layed eggs or gave birth to live young, as well as whether or not it could breath underwater or not. The discussion never reached a conclusion, and I don't remember where it was on this site.

I have a suggestions for a solution.

Given that most marine reptiles in the past gave birth to live young due to their adaptions to the water, its likely that Ceadeus did too. The only exceptions are turtles and marine crocodilians.

Even though no reptile has re-evolved gills, there are some reptiles that can absorb oxygen from water. Some turtles are able to absorb oxygen from their mouth and cloaca underwater. However they only use it to supplement oxygen in addition to their lungs, or during periods of inactivity or hibernation.

I think good reptiles to draw answers from are sea snakes. Sea snakes have a single large lung to hold oxygen during long periods of underwater activity. However sea snakes have another method to absorb oxygen. Sea snakes can absorb a very large amount of their oxygen needs from the skin in between their scales. In fact, they can absorb as much as 20% of their oxygen needs through their skin. Unlike turtles, they are able to stay active and hunt for prey even when the oxygen supply from stored air in their lungs runs out. Another interesting thing about sea snakes is that they are completely helpless on land. While ocean snakes called sea kraits can move on land, true sea snakes can't. They are so well adapted to living underwater, that they have no way of moving on land, and give birth in the ocean instead of returning to land to lay eggs.

This brings up an interesting implication. Sea snakes can absorb such a large amount of oxygen because their skin is a large surface area. Ceadeus has naked patches of scale-less skin on its tail, which is itself a large surface area. However I think that the main oxygen-absorbing area is the "beard". The beard is described as very "unhair-like", instead being tough and wiry. These "hairs" could be numerous extensions of its skin, vastly increasing its surface area. With such a huge surface area provided by the numerous strands of skin, Ceadeus' ability to absorb oxygen could be far superior to that of sea snakes. While sea snakes can absorb up to 20% of its oxygen with just the gaps in its scales, Ceadeus could be capable of absorbing almost all of its oxygen needs through its beard. This could explain why Ceadeus gets so distressed when its beard is damaged. With its main oxygen absorbing structure compromised, it probably retreated in a panic until it was cornered. When cornered it feels that its life is truly in danger from oxygen depletion, which is why it starts fighting against you as a threat instead of a nuisance as earlier in the tunnels.

Even though Ceadeus could absorb such huge amounts of oxygen through its skin, it still has lungs, because it is capable of roaring. It could be possible that the lungs are a backup source of oxygen. This would mean that the role of the lungs and skin are reversed, with the skin as the main source of oxygen absorbtion.

What are your thoughts? Any ideas or feedback?