How Do Animals Transpire?
Through sweat, many species, including humans, reduce body temperature when it is hot. However, there are some that have a secretion system different from ours. In this article, we’ll explain how animals transpire. It’s really curious!
Why do animals sweat?
Before we know how animals transpire, we must know the reasons for this. First, perspiration, or sweat, is a fluid released by the sweat glands in order to cool the body. Therefore, species that transpire are known as “homeotherms”. This means that your metabolism generates heat during the functioning of Organs main organs.
On the other hand, this does not happen with cold-blooded animals (reptiles and amphibians). For this reason, these animals do not have a thermoregulation system, like mammals. In addition, sweat allows the elimination of waste and salts accumulated in the body.
Therefore, sweat is just a mechanism used by animals that have sweat glands. That is, those who cannot find other means to regulate their body temperature.
For example, rabbits and rodents are some “exceptional” mammals that don’t sweat but decrease heat through their tail and ears. Finally, this is why desert subspecies have larger ears than woodland or field ones.
In addition, the dog is a well-known case that uses panting to eliminate excessive body heat through the evaporation of water on the tongue. In turn, the pig wallows in water or mud to cool off in summer.
Eliminate sweat
Depending on the species to which it belongs, an animal will have a different way of eliminating sweat. After all, it all depends on the glands you have. In the case of amphibians, they have very sensitive and light skin. So instead of perspiring, the glands secrete moisturizing mucus or poison, depending on the occasion.
Reptiles, in turn, have thicker skin, as there is a layer of keratin protecting it, but no glands. On the other hand, birds use their uropigian gland to produce a kind of oil that allows them to treat and waterproof their feathers.
The vast majority of mammals sweat, but not all do so equally. That is, everything will depend on the sweat glands they have in the epidermis, which can be:
1. Ecrine
These are the ones that humans and primates have and are distributed throughout the body. Sweat pours onto the surface of the dermis, especially on the armpits, hands, feet, face and neck.
2. Apocrine
They are present in some regions of the epidermis, such as on the palms of the hands and feet, on the nose or in areas uncovered by hair. Some species, such as the donkey, camel and cow, also have this type of glands throughout their bodies, which allow them to cool off when it is too hot.
How animals transpire: different examples
In addition to the species named above, below are other curious ways in which animals transpire:
1. Horse
The two main areas for sweating in horses are the belly and the neck. When you exercise a lot or run long distances, perspiration becomes a kind of foam on your skin. In an hour of hard training, a horse can release up to 15 liters of sweat.
2. Hippopotamus
The skin of this huge mammal has areas with a special pink secretion to protect them from the sun, as the surface is thin and delicate. In addition, hippos excrete this fluid to maintain hydration and prevent infections.
3. Birds
They sweat very little and almost imperceptibly: through areas not covered by feathers or just under their wings, something like their armpits. Then, they open their wings to dry themselves and avoid the appearance of fungus or infections. They are intelligent animals!
4. Cats
Cats perspire through their paw pads and through their noses. However, there are some exceptions, such as the Sphynx cat, which has no fur and needs to release oils to protect itself from the sun.
