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Where Do Those Cold-blooded Animals Go in Winter?
I love a New England winter. With snow falling and wind raging outside, I’m inside with hot chocolate in hand, curled up in my puffy chair, and snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug. What’s that? Is a bug actually snug in a rug? Better not be in my rugs! Bugs and other creatures are outside in the elements, not in my rugs I hope.
So how do cold-blooded creatures cope with this season, anyway? First of all, let’s be clear on what, “cold-blooded” means. This is actually an inaccurate and outdated word. We’re talking about animals that get their heat from their environment, like amphibians, reptiles, insects and other arthropods, and fish. We call them “ectothermic”, meaning literally, “outside heat”. These creatures seek out warm places or cooler places in order to stay just the right temperature. The benefit of being ectothermic is food. They don’t need to eat nearly as much as mammals and birds who need to fuel that fire within. Going without eating for a few months therefore works for them; winter’s cold though is a challenge.
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