STRUCTURE ADAPTATION TO REGULATE BODY TEMPERATURE
Mammals and birds are known to regulate their body temperatures so that their respective body temperatures remain more or less constant. Constant body temperature is necessary for normal functioning of organs and tissues in the body.
Based on their ability to regulate their body temperature, the vertebrate is grouped into two namely.
HOMEOTHERMIC ANIMALS:- Homeothermic animals have constant body temperature. in other words, the body temperature does not change with the temperature of the environment. Examples are found in mammals and birds
POIKILOTHERMIC ANIMALS:- Poikilothermic animals do not have constant body temperature, the body temperature of the environment. Example are found in fishes, amphibians and reptiles.
structural adaptation of some animals to regulate body temperature are discussed below.
ADAPTATION BY MAMMALS
- The hairs enclose a layer of still air around the body. This layer of air acts as an insulator which reduces the rate at which sweat evaporates from the body. The slower the rate of sweat evaporation fro the body, the slower the rate of heat loss from the body.
When the weather is cold, the hairs stand almost erect and enclose a thicker the layer of air. When it is warm, the hairs stand at an angle and enclose a thicker layer of air. The hairs regulate the thickness of the layer of air above the skin and hence the rate of heat loss from the body.
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