What physiological consequence results from the weasel's high surface-area-to-volume ratio?
Answer
Rapid loss of body heat, necessitating a high metabolic rate.
The very physical structure that grants the weasel its unparalleled access to subterranean prey—its slender body shape—also creates a physiological challenge: a high surface-area-to-volume ratio. This ratio means the animal loses accumulated body heat to the environment very quickly. To counteract this constant, rapid heat dissipation and maintain essential core temperature and energy levels required for continuous activity, the weasel must sustain an incredibly high metabolic rate, forcing it to hunt and consume prey nearly equal to its own body weight daily.
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