Why Don Penguins Feet Freeze?
Antarctic birds and mammals – penguins, whales and seals – are warm blooded animals and they maintain similar internal body temperatures similar to warm blooded animals in any other climate zone – that is about 35-42C (95-107F). They have to keep high body temperatures to remain active. Tropical animals with more variable body temperatures such as reptiles and amphibians can warm up by basking in the sun if they cool down – and they never cool down that much. A large (bigger than a small insect) Antarctic animal will never get enough energy from the surroundings to become active if it allows itself to cool (there are exceptions at the other end of the size scale amongst very small insects and mites and in the fish) so they have to stay warm to be active. ————————————–… The system that stops a penguin’s foot from freezing is very elaborate and sophisticated and employs two mechanisms. The first one allows the penguin to control the rate of blood flowing to its f
