Question

If the outside temperature decreases by 20 degrees Celsius, what will happen to a reptile’s body temperature?

Answer 1

A reptile's body temperature will decrease with a 20-degree Celsius drop in outside temperature due to their ectothermic nature. They become sluggish and may enter estivation to conserve energy, performing only vital functions to survive.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the outside temperature decreases by 20 degrees Celsius, a reptile's body temperature will also decrease. This is because reptiles are ectothermic organisms, meaning their internal body temperature is determined by their surrounding environment. Unlike endothermic animals, which can generate internal heat to maintain constant body temperature, reptiles must rely on behavioral adaptations to regulate their temperature. Reptiles, such as an American alligator basking in the sun, absorb heat when it is available to increase their body temperature.

When environmental temperatures drop, reptiles like snakes will seek shelter and become sluggish as their body temperature falls. This slowdown can affect their heart rate, breathing rate, and overall metabolic function. Some reptiles may enter a state of estivation, a period of inactivity and lowered metabolic rate, to conserve energy and survive until temperatures become favorable again. In essence, a reptile's body will perform only critical activities necessary to sustain its living state during such times.

Answer 2

The reptile's body temperature rises when the external temperature rises. When the temperature drops, so does his body temperature. If a reptile feels cold because the external temperatures have made his blood cold, he'll lie in the sun to warm up. However, if the external temperature is too high, he scurries under a rock, dives in a pool or finds some kind of shade where he can cool down. Reptiles and other animals with ectothermic systems are vulnerable to extreme changes in temperature because they can't control their temperatures internally. They can control their body temperatures only by moving to an environment with a suitable ambient temperature.