Body temperature of Dermochelys coriacea: Warm turtle from cold water
Friar W, Ackman RG, Mrosovsky N. 1972. Body temperature of Dermochelys coriacea: Warm turtle from cold water. Science. 177(4051):791-793
The deep body temperature of a leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, taken out of cold water, was 18 degrees Celsius above the water temperature. A large size favoring heat retention from muscular activity is probably responsible for this differential. Cooling rates (k) in water, measured on a second animal, were in the order of 0.001 degrees Celsius per minute per degree of difference between body and ambient temperature.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Friar, W; Ackman, R; Mrosovsky, N
- Units
- CACO
- Keywords
- Dermochelys, leatherbacks, Metabolism, Reptiles Amphibians, Sea Turtles, termperature