Neogi and Umber Hulks - air breathing?

A point frequently made is that neogi don't need to breathe,
which supposedly gives them a major advantage in SJ.

Unfortunately...

Umber hulks are not described as not having to breathe in any
rules that I have seen.  If nothing else I would expect "not
needing to breathe" would be a Special Defence.

This would seem to completely negate the neogi ability, as they
seem to always appear with their umber hulks.

Am I missing something here???

-- 
Dreamer
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http://www.romsys.demon.co.uk/