Gigantothermy

Gigantothermy is a phenomenon with significance in biology and paleontology, whereby large, bulky ectotherms are able to maintain a constant, relatively high body temperature by virtue of their greater volume to surface area ratio. The phenomenon is important in the biology of ectothermic megafauna, such as large turtles (particularly the Leatherback Sea Turtle), dinosaurs, and aquatic reptiles like ichthyosaurs and mosasaurs. It is also present in certain large fish, most notably the great white shark. Gigantotherms, though almost always ectothermic, generally have a body temperature and metabolic rate similar to that of endotherms.

Related Topics:
Biology - Paleontology - Ectotherm - Body temperature - Volume - Surface area - Megafauna - Turtle - Leatherback Sea Turtle - Dinosaur - Ichthyosaur - Mosasaur - Great white shark - Metabolic - Endotherm

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