Which animal can hold its breath the longest?

Among air-breathing animals, the Cuvier beaked whale is the champion breath-holder, with one recorded dive lasting about 3 hours and 42 minutes. These deep-diving whales hunt squid far below the surface, sometimes descending nearly 3,000 metres. They manage such feats by storing large amounts of oxygen in their blood and muscles and by slowing their heart rate and shutting down non-essential functions during a dive. Sea turtles can also remain underwater for hours, especially when resting in cold water. By comparison, humans can typically hold their breath for only a few minutes.