Nine of the World's Warmest Animals
Polar bears dwell in the Arctic, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, and northern Norway. Predators warm up. Dense hair insulates their 4-inch blubber. Burrowing female polar bears shelter offspring from Arctic winters.
Southeast Asian orangutans are Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli. Strong arms enable them hang through canopies. These apes plan and use tools. Each night takes 10 minutes. They wear leaves to stay cool.
Large meals maintain lions' body temperature. They can devour a fourth of their body weight in one meal. Mice, baboons, zebras, and antelopes are their prey.
Elephants are 13,000 pounds and the largest terrestrial animal. They're heat-adapted. Large ears help cool these animals. Warm ears flap. Their wrinkles cool them. Mud reduces sunburn.
Breathing and sweating between toes and soles cools them. Winter helps these animals grow weight. Different squirrel species heat differently. Tree squirrels live in tree trunks.
Australian kangaroos reside in deserts and savannas. Long tails and strong hind legs help these creatures hop. Reddish fur reflects the sun's heat and insulates when cold. They also lick their arms to cool down.
Long legs separate camels from hot desert sands, keeping them cooler. Camel feet can walk on sand without sinking or slipping, and their humps store energy.
They gather in lagoons, lakes, or mudflats to eat shrimp. Dietary beta-carotene gives them pink feathers. Flamingos shudder in cold weather to generate heat through muscle energy.
White-furred wolves are unique. This colour blends with snow. Arctic wolves have smooth, thick coats. Spring thins their coat. Small muzzles and ears help wolves keep warm.