Biology
Behavioral Thermoregulation in Intertidal Ectotherms
Quick fact
Some intertidal snails, like the periwinkle, can lose up to 80% of their body water and still survive, but they rarely rely on such extremes—instead, they choose to crawl into shaded crevices or clamp onto cooler, wet surfaces, showing that behavior alone can slash body temperature by 10°C or more.
Why this is interesting
At low tide, the sun beats down on exposed rocks, and a snail might cook in minutes. Yet these animals thrive—how do they beat the heat without sweating or shivering?