BRAINCAKEAdaptations for Hot Environments
Animals in hot deserts and the tropics need to lose heat and avoid gaining it, often while also conserving water.
Anatomical
• Large surface area to volume ratio. Long, thin limbs and large ears increase the area from which heat can be lost. The fennec fox and the African elephant have very large ears with many blood vessels near the surface. Elephants flap their ears, which increases heat loss by convection.
• Thin or light-coloured coats. Less insulation lets heat escape, while pale fur reflects radiation from the Sun. Camels have thick fur on the back that shields the body from the Sun's radiation.
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More in Homeostasis
- Keeping Warm
- Control of Core Body Temperature
- Vasodilation
- Vasoconstriction
- Adaptations for Cold Environments
- Cooling The Brain
- Behavioural Control of Body Temperature
- Cape Ground Squirrel
All 41 lessons in Homeostasis · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics