Final answer:
Animals have different body temperatures based on whether they are ectothermic, with body temperatures that vary with the environment, or endothermic, maintaining stable body temperatures. Endotherms use more energy to regulate their temperature, often involving insulation like fur or fat. Both large surface area to mass ratios and behavioral changes like seeking shade or sun can affect an animal's body temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Do Animals Have Different Body Temperatures?
Different animals have different body temperatures because of their varying thermoregulatory mechanisms. Ectothermic animals have body temperatures that fluctuate with their environments. For instance, reptiles such as alligators bask in the sun to warm up and seek shade to cool down. Meanwhile, endothermic animals maintain fairly constant internal body temperatures regardless of the environmental temperature. Humans, mice, and kangaroos fall into this category; they can shiver to produce heat or sweat to cool down.
Endothermy allows for high metabolic rates and activity level in both warm and cold environments. This internal regulation of temperature is quite energy-intensive, requiring more food as a source of energy. Insulating mechanisms like fur, feathers, and fat play key roles in heat conservation for endotherms, for example, polar bears and seals that can survive in subfreezing conditions. Conversely, ectotherms may alter their behavior, such as finding cooler or warmer spots to regulate their body temperature.
Larger organisms generally lose heat more quickly due to their greater surface area relative to mass. However, both endotherms and ectotherms have adapted to their specific environments and lifestyles, ensuring they can conserve or dissipate heat as needed for their survival.