METABOLISM OF LEATHERBACK TURTLES, GIGANTOTHERMY, AND THERMOREGULATION OF DINOSAURS
METABOLISM OF LEATHERBACK TURTLES, GIGANTOTHERMY, AND THERMOREGULATION OF DINOSAURS
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DOI：
10.1038/344858a0
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发表时间：
1990-04-26
期刊：
影响因子：
64.8
通讯作者：
SPOTILA, JR
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
PALADINO, FV;OCONNOR, MP;SPOTILA, JR
革龟（Dermochelys coriacea）是现存最大的爬行动物之一（>900 kg）1，2，分布范围从热带到北极圈以北3，4。它们在寒冷的海水（7.5 ° C）中保持较高的体温（25.5 ° C）5，6并在陆地上加热7。棱皮龟的代谢和体温调节机制对动物生物学中的大小和功能的考虑8 - 10以及对棱皮龟吸热能力的推测11 -18具有重要意义。在这里，我们报告说，代谢率的成年人在休息，而筑巢是中间的异速生长关系预测的爬行动物和哺乳动物。数学模型表明，棱皮龟可以利用较大的体型、外围组织作为隔热层以及循环变化来维持北大西洋的温暖温度并避免热带地区过热。这种“巨温性”可能使大型恐龙能够生活在不同的栖息地，包括白垩纪极地地区。
LEATHERBACKS (Dermochelys coriacea) are among the largest living reptiles (>900 kg)1, 2and range from the tropics to north of the Arctic Circle3, 4. They maintain elevated body temperatures (25.5 °C) in cold seawater (7.5 °C)5, 6and heat up on land7. Metabolic and thermoregulatory mechanisms of leatherbacks have important implications for considerations of size and function in animal biology8–10and for speculation on the endothermic capacities of dinosaurs11–18. Here we report that metabolic rates of adults at rest and while nesting are intermediate to those predicted by allometric relationships for reptiles and mammals. Mathematical modelling indicates that leatherbacks can use large body size, peripheral tissues as insulation, and circulatory changes, to maintain warm temperatures in the North Atlantic and to avoid overheating in the tropics. This 'gigantothermy' probably allowed large dinosaurs to live in varied habitats, including Cretaceous polar regions.