5th April 2011 Keeping Warm

Apart from icefish using proteins to prevent themselves from freezing, the following creatures have mechanisms to cope with the cold too.

• Snow Fleas - glycine-rich antifreeze proteins
• Wood Frogs - draw their limbs into their bodies to prevent them from dying out, and use glucose. They hibernate at temperatures of -1 to -6C when up to 65% of their body fluid gradually crystallises into ice.
• Painted Turtle Hatchlings - hibernate 10 cm underground in their nests.
• Honey Bees  - huddle together.