Question

Essay: (a) Describe what it means to be an animal that is a homeothermic endotherm. (b) What is the primary benefit of being a homeothermic endotherm? Explain, at a physiological level, why body temperature is related to this benefit (hint: think about the functioning of physiological systems such as the nervous system, muscles, and senses at different temperatures).

Answer 1

Endotherms are animals that primarily produces its own heat. Homeotherms are animals that have a constant body temperature.

All endotherms are homeothermic.

Most mammals, including humans, as well as most birds are endothermic homeotherms, while most fish, invertibrates, reptiles, and amphibians are ectothermic poikilotherms.

Advantages of homeothermic endotherm:-

it gives endothermic animals greater stamina than ectothermic animals. Because of their faster metabolism, endothermic animals can quickly resupply muscles with energy and rapidly break down muscular waste products.

Most mammals, internally regulate and maintain a constant temperature, allowing them to live in colder regions where the sun is less available to warm their bodies.

Most cold-blooded animals don’t internally house their offspring but rather keep them in locally placed eggs. This can be especially detrimental if the environment is full of predators. Endotherms, on the other hand, maintain warmth inside their body, providing a nourishing environment and live births.

The human body’s natural antibodies and defenses are relatively automatic. When infected with a sickness or bacteria, humans' internal temperature naturally rises in an effort to kill off the germs. Ectotherms, such as lizards, don’t have this luxury and must instead bask in the sun -- assuming it’s available -- for longer periods of time. This makes ectothermic regulation slightly costlier in terms of risk as compared to endothermic regulation.