During prolonged starvation, by what approximate percentage do fasting snakes reduce their metabolic rates?
Answer
By as much as 70 percent
To survive extended periods without sustenance, the Western Diamondback employs extreme physiological measures involving metabolic downregulation. When facing starvation for months, these snakes drastically lower their energy expenditure, cutting their basal metabolic rates by as much as 70 percent. This massive reduction in energy usage is central to their ability to maintain basic life functions over periods spanning many months or even years without external caloric intake.
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