Which statement best describes the effect of endothermy on mammal activity?

Which statement best describes the effect of endothermy on mammal activity?

• A. Endothermy allows mammals to be active in varied environments due to higher metabolic rate.
• B. Endothermy makes mammals cold-blooded.
• C. Endothermy eliminates the need for food.
• D. Endothermy is only found in birds.

Answer: (A)

Endothermy is the ability to generate and maintain a stable, relatively high body temperature through internal metabolic heat. This keeps enzymes functioning well and muscles able to perform across a range of environmental conditions, so animals can stay active even when the outside world is cool. The higher metabolic rate that comes with endothermy provides the energy needed for sustained activity, making mammals capable of functioning in varied environments. This concept isn’t about being cold-blooded; endothermy actually means warm-blooded. It also doesn’t mean you don’t need to eat—maintaining a high, constant body temperature requires more food to supply the energy. And it isn’t unique to birds; mammals are endothermic too, just as birds are.

Endothermy is the ability to generate and maintain a stable, relatively high body temperature through internal metabolic heat. This keeps enzymes functioning well and muscles able to perform across a range of environmental conditions, so animals can stay active even when the outside world is cool. The higher metabolic rate that comes with endothermy provides the energy needed for sustained activity, making mammals capable of functioning in varied environments.

This concept isn’t about being cold-blooded; endothermy actually means warm-blooded. It also doesn’t mean you don’t need to eat—maintaining a high, constant body temperature requires more food to supply the energy. And it isn’t unique to birds; mammals are endothermic too, just as birds are.