Abstract
We propose that mammalian homeothermy was acquired in two steps. The first step enabled mammals to invade a nocturnal niche without an increase in resting metabolic rate. The second step enabled them to invade a diurnal niche and involved the acquisition of higher body temperatures and metabolic rates.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 52 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.83 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Huey, R. B. Science 184, 1001–1003 (1974).
Crompton, A. W. & Jenkins, Jr, F. A. in The Evolution of African Mammals (eds Maglio, V. & Cooke) (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, in the press).
Jerrison, H. J. Evolution of the Brain and Intelligence (Academic, New York, 1973).
Jenkins, Jr, F. A. & Parrington, F. R. Phil. Trans. R. Soc., Lond. B 273, 387–431 (1976).
Schmidt-Nielsen, K. Desert Animals. Physiological Problems of Heat and Water (Oxford University Press, New York 1964).
Brett, J. R. in Marine Ecology (ed. Kinne, O.) 1, 513–560 (Wiley-Interscience, London, 1971).
McMahon, T. A. J. appl. Physiol. 39, 619–627 (1975).
Hochachka, P. W. & Somero, G. N. Strategies of Biochemical Adaptation (Saunders, Philadelphia, 1973).
Dawson, T. J. in Comparative Physiology of Thermoregulation (ed. Whittow, G. C.) 3, 1–46 (Academic, New York, 1973).
Bakker, R. T. in Perspectives in Biophysical Ecology (eds Gates, D. & Schmerl, R.) (Springer, Berlin, 1975).
Ricqlès, A. J. Evol. Theory 1, 51–80 (1974).
Lilligraven, J. A. Taxon 11, 261–274 (1974).
Kielan-Jaworowska, A. Nature 226, 97 (1970).
Eisenberg, J. F. & Gould, E. The Tenrecs: A study in Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1970).
Dawson, T. J. & Hulbert, A. J. Am. J. Physiol. 218, 1233–1238 (1970).
Kleiber, M. The Fire of Life. An introduction to Animal Energetics (Wiley, New York, 1961).
Hildwein, C. Arch. Sci. Physiol. 24, 55–71 (1970).
Shkolnik, A. & Schmidt-Nielsen, K. Physiol. Zool. 49, 56–64 (1976).
Bakker, R. T. The Physiologist, 15 (1972).
Taylor, C. R. in Scale Effects in Animal Locomotion (ed. Pedley, T. J.) (Academic, London, 1977).
Taylor, C. R., Schmidt-Nielsen, K. & Raab, Am. J. Physiol. 219, 1104–1107 (1970).
Crompton, A. W. & Parker, P. Am. Sci. (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crompton, A., Taylor, C. & Jagger, J. Evolution of homeothermy in mammals. Nature 272, 333–336 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/272333a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/272333a0
