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Can cold-blooded animals die of hypothermia? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 10 months ago by linucs@lemmy.ml to c/askscience@lemmy.world
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[-] Lemvi 47 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I think that can't be answered categorically like that. Some species can survive being completely frozen, like the wood frog, others can't. Interestingly, there are also some mammals that can survive extreme cold, the arctic ground squirrel can survive a core temperature of below 0°C

I guess it's as doctors say: "You aren't dead until you're warm and dead"

[-] CanadaPlus@futurology.today 9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Fun fact, cryonics came to prominence because it just works on small animals like mice. There was literally guys "killing" and reviving mice in the 50's.

It's entirely likely that the only barrier in humans is that we're too big to quickly cool with any known technology.

[-] Conyak@lemmy.tf 8 points 10 months ago

Cold blooded means their body temperature relies on an external source. It doesn’t mean they don’t need to have warm blood. Without an external heat source they become hypothermic and will eventually die.

[-] CanadaPlus@futurology.today 2 points 10 months ago

Depends entirely on species.

[-] XTL@sopuli.xyz 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Ianab, but I would say yes. Even more easily actually since they have weaker thermal regulation. The notable difference to so called warm blooded animals is that there isn't a separate circulation to head and brain and the associated 4-chamber heart.

Maybe someone can confirm or refute or give better information on what exactly is hypothermia and how the effects would differ. I'm just reasoning based on elementary school biology.

[-] zepheriths@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

It's not as simple as that there are some cold blooded animals that survive being frozen in ice. And there are some animals that have a bad time with temps under 70 degrees ( my cat but still)

this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2023
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