Godzilla 2014 Gill Theory

I was really surprised when they didn't vent out of the neck when he used his radioactive breath. 

For the sake of providing some scientific fact so that the "theories" end and the sharing of knowledge and real world information and fact continue, gills are a biological method of transporting oxygen, not radiation.

They aren't used in any kind of food intake/transportation/processing system whatsoever, not even in Godzilla's body. They process oxygen in the water and feed it to the blood stream so that the creature can "breathe" or at least continue to function underwater and maintain stable oxygen levels in the blood, muscles, and major organs as it remains under for extended periods of time. Without the gills, Godzilla would either drown underwater, or his body would shut down due to the lack of oxygen flow in his system (which is still essentially drowning).

Not to sound mean, but to think Godzilla doesn't "need" gills just because you didn't hear them spoken about in the movie doesn't mean they aren't important or necessary for Godzilla to function. To think otherwise is kind of... well... foolish. In any real world creature, which is what they're trying to portray Godzilla as in this new franchise, to be able to breathe underwater and process/supply oxygen to the body without taking in breaths of air, gills are essential.

Whenever you see a fish, what are you usually looking at and considering to be important about them? The eyes, the mouth, the color of the scales, and the shape. One of the last things on your mind is "oh look at those very important gills without which it would never survive underwater."

This version of Godzilla is no exception. The gills are in fact necessary for him to breathe under the water. If he didn't have them, he would not be spending extended periods of time beneath the waves. He would constantly be surfacing for air like any other air breathing creature which has no gills with which to process the oxygen in the water to the body to continue basic function and biological stability.

The most likely method of Godzilla absorbing radiation for food is simply by exposing himself to it. The radiation permeates his flesh and enters his body and blood stream, feeding him the nutrients he needs to survive. Because radiation is metaphysical (doesn't have a solid or physical form), why would his body need a physical method of processing it such as gills (which are and have always been for underwater oxygen absorption and transportation)?

My own theory is that he can take in the radiation, and its contents pretty much rule out the need for oxygen since if his cells can utilize the radioactive materials at all in the first place, they wouldnt need oxygen for function. HOWEVER........ that doesn't mean oxygen doesn't have its uses. It could instead serve as a very useful catalyst element for the new body processes that would inevitably have evolved to intake and break down the radiation.

And why evolve a way to take in this oxygen uniquely if you don't need to? I theorize that the gills were present during Godzilla's species' evolution BEFORE they became radiation-eaters. Perhaps instead of land animals that evolved to go back into the waters indefinitely, it was the other way around, where instead of losing the gills as fish, they kept them, and evolved lungs to act as a system for oxygen on land.

They eventually evolved similarly to how amphibians would eventually give rise to reptiles, but always maintained their aquatic nature, retaining gills and a lifestyle oriented around the water, but they could go onto land at will when they wanted and/or needed to. However, with radiation becoming abundant, they evolved to harness its much more sustaining energy in comparison to physical food, which meant larger bodies.

Since they grew so large, they couldn't rely solely on the oxygen content in the air and water, and evolved processes by which to manufacture substitue elements from their radiation diet. Now, oxygen became a the supplemtary element, but was still important nonetheless, likely, again, for catalyzing other important bodily processes. However, rather than evolve new ways to gather it, I theorize that they could've kept the gills, their lungs, and oral openings to take in oxygen for said purposes.

That way, be it in the water or on land, Godzilla's species woudl always be able to find their oxygen catalyst. As well, I also theorize that the species would also use their gills, nostrils, and mouths to take in any other gases as well, but for an entirely different purpose: buoyancy. By being able to extract oxygen and other gases from the air and/or water, those gases, if very light and in high enough concentrations, can be used in swimming to maintain buoyancy in swimming, and even be used on land to prevent the creatures from simply sinking into the ground.

This way, a member of Godzilla's species could effectively control its depth in the water by alternating gas concentrations in its body, and travel onto land when necessary by taking in more gases to make its body lighter on the inside than normal, thus effectively "lifting" it off the ground on the inside. It won't be enough to make the species float above the air since they're so massive, but it WILL make sure their mass doesn't cause them to sink into the ground.

Anyways, that's just my two-cents. Like it or not, it's just a theory. A G-theory! Thanks for listening! :P

i think that the radiation is like food to godzilla he still requires air because we see him breath several time like SPOILER ALERT at the end when he appears to be dead but he isnt he takes a deep breath and come back alive

I have an explanation for that too! You see, just because something isn't required doesn't mean you don't still do it. It's very much like a habit, breathing. With a radioactive diet, there are plenty of substitue materials that replace the normal purpose of oxygen, but breathing at all, be it through gills or oral areas, remains an impuslive and almost uncontrollable behaviour. I've highlightied how I think it works in my post above, and here, I chalk up any signs of breathing as instinctual leftovers of a time when it was normal.

Here is my theroy he evolved them so he could breath under water.

MaggieShackle, we already knew that :P

We're just discussing "why" in our own unique ways. Actually, I didn't say that, since in my HUGE post above, I said the species had them from the get-go instead.

Ok fine be that way but all kidding aside they proabaly work in way that it takes in both oxygen and radiation.

This is an iteresting theory!

My theories also explain how Godzilla gets the gases needed for his plasma breath :D

GODZILLA316 - What a very interesting hypothesis you've presented! I'm uncertain of how viable gills would be to take in radiation; such a biological system seems slightly limited. Only being able to take in radiation from two relatively small points on his body would be a serious weakness in a creature such as Godzilla. It makes more sense, in my opinion, for Godzilla to absorb radiation over every inch of skin. Of course, your theory is just as valid as anyone esles - Godzilla very well could use his gills as a radiation intake! We humans only breathe through our mouths and noses, while some ambhibians breathe through their skin. From a survival standpoint, human respiration seems a bit limited, yet we're the dominant species on the planet! Ergo, Godzilla could have evolved with what appears to be a "limitting" method of radiation absorption and has still managed to be the most powerful life-form on Earth! :)

I'm sorry but the whole gills being able to absorb radiation theory is wrong sadly. Godzilla doesn't need gills to absorb radiation, no creature does. Not the Mutos, Godzilla, hobo next door, nothing. Radiation could enter your body from anywere. But he does indeed need gills to breath under water and a nose to breath on land. 

I'm sorry but the whole gills being able to absorb radiation theory is wrong sadly. Godzilla doesn't need gills to absorb radiation, no creature does. Not the Mutos, Godzilla, hobo next door, nothing. Radiation could enter your body from anywere. But he does indeed need gills to breath under water and a nose to breath on land. 

So I see no one paid attention to my theories about the gills and whatnot -_-

woot woot you just got godzilla ered um shut up. SHREEEEEOOONK!