7 Strange Ways Animals Beat the Heat

Humans and some other mammals keep cool by sweating it out. But the rest of the animal kingdom, lacking sweat glands, has evolved other ways to survive the summer.

By Joshua Rapp Learn
Aug 30, 2022 4:30 PMSep 1, 2022 2:13 PM
Dog sitting by fan
(Credit: Ellina Balioz/Shutterstock)

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The more the climate warms, the more we’re destined to sweat. But while drenched t-shirts might be uncomfortable, not all animals are lucky enough to perspire.

Mammals are the only type of animals with eccrine sweat glands, though these glands are sometimes used to help animals grip rather than cool down in the heat. For humans, horses and some other mammals, these glands secrete fluid that cools the skin as it evaporates.

As for the rest of the mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds of the world, they must find creative ways to chill out. Here are a few of the unique processes that animals use to keep their temperature from rising.

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