Small bodied endotherms (think kangaroo rat) expend more energy per unit mass maintaining their body temperatures than large bodied endotherms. Why is this so for mammals? Larger mammals have lower body temperatures than smaller mammals and so don’t need to use as much energy. Smaller mammals have thicker insulation than larger mammals and so experience less heat loss More small mammals live in colder climates than large mammals and so experience more heat loss. Smaller mammals have a higher surface area to body ratio than larger mammals, and so experience more heat loss.
Added by Angela D.
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Larger mammals have lower body temperatures than smaller mammals and so don’t need to use as much energy: This statement is not true. Larger and smaller mammals have similar body temperatures, but larger mammals have a lower metabolic rate per unit mass. Show more…
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