Warm-blooded animals are also called homeotherms.
These animals have a constant body temperature in all environmental conditions. Their examples include
1. Humans
2. Herbivorous animals like cows, horses, elephants, donkeys, camels, giraffes, monkeys, squirrels, etc.
3. Carnivorous animals like tigers, lions, dogs, cats, bears, hyenas, etc.
4. All Birds-Like crows, eagles, sparrows, parrots, pigeons, peacocks, hens, ducks, etc.
The humans are homeotherms and have a constant body temperature of 37 °C.
👉 Any change in body temperature is an indication of health issues and metabolic disturbance.
- This change is mitigated almost instantly by homeostatic mechanisms in the body to maintain normal physiology.
- Failure to maintain a constant body temperature causes heat stroke.
- The body temperature is kept constant due to the temperature-regulating center in the brain.
- This center monitors the changes in the temperature and helps correct with enhanced metabolism or increased blood flow, etc.
- The blood in these animals helps to distribute a uniform temperature throughout the body.
- Besides, they also have protective factors in the body, like the presence of thick fur, feathers, hard skin, and even adipose tissue, to counter cold temperatures.
Warm-Blooded Animals List
1. Man
- Humans are warm-blooded animals, and they try to protect themselves from cold (to prevent body heat loss) by all means.
2. Mammals
- Animals with mammary glands are called mammals. All the major animals come under this group, like
Terrestrial mammals
- These animals live on land and are directly exposed to the sun.
- At times of cold, they tend to be exposed to sunlight and sleep in groups or caves.
A) Herbivorous animals:
Cows, buffaloes, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, donkeys, monkeys, horses, giraffes, squirrels, deer, camels are endothermic.
B) Carnivorous animals
- Like lions, tigers, cheetahs, bears, foxes, hyenas, dogs, and cats are also hot-blooded animals.
- But there are a few exceptions, too. For example, the arctic squirrel can be heterothermic, and its body temperature can drop below zero if required.
- Even a few rats and bats can reduce their temperature drastically when needed.
Marine mammals/ animals
Animals living in oceans, seas, and other water bodies can also have warm blood.
- Whales
- Dolphins
- Penguins
- Sea lions
- Certain types of shark
that live in oceans and seas are warm-blooded animals.
Due to the intense cold waters, they are susceptible to cold temperatures. But still their body maintains heat.
3. Birds:
- All the birds are warm-blooded animals.
- They have a heavy covering on their body in the form of wings and also feathers.
- Hence, when you touch a bird below its wings, you can notice it to be very hot.
- The bird’s examples include crows, eagles, pigeons, parrots, sparrows, owls, vultures, hens, ducks, swans, cranes, etc.
- All the lower animals, like the invertebrates, are cold-blooded animals — their body temperature changes according to the surrounding environment.