Melegvérség

Melegvérség, also known as endothermy or homeothermy, refers to the biological characteristic of maintaining a stable internal body temperature, largely independent of external environmental temperatures. This is a defining feature of birds and mammals. Unlike cold-blooded animals (ectotherms) whose body temperature fluctuates with their surroundings, warm-blooded animals generate their own heat through metabolic processes.

This internal heat production, coupled with physiological mechanisms like sweating, panting, shivering, and altering blood flow to the skin, allows warm-blooded animals to thrive in a wide range of climates. The high and stable body temperature is advantageous for cellular processes, enabling faster metabolic rates and more efficient muscle function, which is crucial for activities like sustained movement and rapid responses.

The energy cost of maintaining a constant internal temperature is significant, requiring a higher metabolic rate and thus a greater intake of food compared to ectotherms of similar size. This metabolic efficiency is a complex evolutionary adaptation that has allowed birds and mammals to occupy diverse ecological niches and achieve high levels of activity and complexity.