Knowra Regional endothermy Regional endothermy Regional endothermy is the maintenance of body regions above the temperature of the surrounding environment. It lets some animals warm specific tissues without keeping the entire body warm.
Countercurrent heat exchange : Heat transfer between fluids flowing in opposite directions, which preserves temperature differences along their shared path. Closely paired arteries and veins recover heat from blood leaving warm tissues.
Tuna : A group of fast-swimming predatory marine fishes in the tribe Thunnini. Tunas retain heat in swimming muscles and, in some species, the brain and eyes.
Thermal niche : The range of thermal conditions in which an organism can survive, grow, and reproduce. Regional warming can let an animal function in water colder than its tissues would otherwise tolerate.
Homeothermy : The maintenance of a relatively stable body temperature over time. Homeothermy describes temperature stability, whereas regional endothermy concerns where warmth is maintained.
Red muscle : Oxidative muscle tissue rich in mitochondria, myoglobin, and blood vessels, specialized for sustained activity. In tunas, red muscle generates heat that warms swimming muscles and nearby organs.
Opah : A deep-bodied, pelagic fish genus whose members maintain elevated whole-body temperatures through continuous swimming. The opah's warm body is an unusual, extensive form of regional endothermy.
Aerobic scope : The difference between an animal's maximum and resting rates of oxygen consumption. Warm muscles can sustain activity, while the heat-producing metabolism raises energy demands.
Ectothermy : A thermal strategy in which body temperature depends largely on heat exchanged with the environment. Regional endotherms combine environmental temperature dependence with internally warmed tissues.
Rete mirabile : A network of closely packed arteries and veins that enables countercurrent exchange between blood flows. This vascular network traps metabolic heat in the tissues surrounding it.
Billfish : A group of large predatory fishes, including swordfish, marlins, and sailfish. Some billfish warm their brains and eyes with specialized heat-producing tissue.
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