Anatomical, Physiological, And Behavioral Mechanisms Of Thermoregulation In Elephants
September 2022
in “
Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology
”
TLDR Elephants use their skin, ears, and behavior to cool down, but climate change makes it harder for them.
The document explored how African and Asian elephants regulated their body temperature through anatomical, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms. Elephants used the crevices and wrinkles in their skin to retain water, which helped in cooling. Their ears, which were highly vascularized, were essential for dissipating heat through movement and changes in blood flow. These processes were managed by the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center and peripheral responses. The study highlighted that climate change challenged elephants' ability to maintain stable body temperatures. It suggested practical applications like infrared thermography and environmental enrichment to aid in their thermal regulation.
