Involved in oxygen transport from the lung to the various peripheral tissues. Heterotetramer of two alpha chains and two beta chains. When oxygenated in vitro, exists virtually only in polymeric form. When deoxygenated, forms tetramers, octamers and larger polymers. Red blood cells. Displays a pronounced Bohr effect despite the lack of the His at position 146 conserved in the beta subunit in most other vertebrates. Shows chloride-dependent sensitivity to organophosphates like ATP and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) but not to inositol hexaphosphate (IHP). Binds molecular CO(2), not bicarbonate as reported for other crocodilians. Belongs to the globin family.