Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Metabolism of leatherback turtles, gigantothermy, and thermoregulation of dinosaurs

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

LEATHERBACKS (Dermochelys coriacea) are among the largest living reptiles (>900 kg)1, 2 and range from the tropics to north of the Arctic Circle3, 4. They maintain elevated body temperatures (25.5 °C) in cold seawater (7.5 °C)5, 6 and heat up on land7. Metabolic and thermoregulatory mechanisms of leatherbacks have important implications for considerations of size and function in animal biology8–10 and for speculation on the endothermic capacities of dinosaurs11–18. Here we report that metabolic rates of adults at rest and while nesting are intermediate to those predicted by allometric relationships for reptiles and mammals. Mathematical modelling indicates that leatherbacks can use large body size, peripheral tissues as insulation, and circulatory changes, to maintain warm temperatures in the North Atlantic and to avoid overheating in the tropics. This 'gigantothermy' probably allowed large dinosaurs to live in varied habitats, including Cretaceous polar regions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rhodin, A. G. J., Ogden, J. A. & Conologue, G. J. Nature 290, 244–246 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Goff, G. P. & Lien, J. Can. Fld Nat. 102, 1–5 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Willgohs, J. F. Nature 179, 163–164 (1957).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bleakney, J. S. Can. Fld Nat. 79, 120–128 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mrosovsky, N. & Pritchard, P. C. H. Copeia 4, 624–631 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Frair, W., Ackman, R. G. & Mrosovsky, N. Science 177, 791–793 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Standora, E. A., Spotila, J. R., Keinath, J. A. & Shoop, C. R. Herpetologica 40, 169–176 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Peters, R. H. The Ecological Implications of Body Size (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1983).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Calder, W. A. Size, Function and Life History (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schmidt-Nielsen, K. Scaling: Why is Animal Size So Important (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1984).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Paul, G. S. J. Paleont. 62, 640–652 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Spotila, J. R., Lommen, P. W., Bakken, G. S. & Gates, D. M. Am. Nat. 107, 391–404 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Spotila, J. R. in A Cold Look at the Warm-Blooded Dinosaurs (eds Thomas, R. D. K. & Olson, E. C.) 233–254 (AAAS Symposium 28, Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Feduccia, A. Evolution 27, 166–169 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bennett, A. F. & Dalzell, B. Evolution 27, 170–174 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dodson, P. Evolution 28, 494–497 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Farlow, J. O. Ecology 57, 841–857 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. McGowan, C. Paleobiology 5, 285–295 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Prange, H. D. & Jackson, D. C. Resp. Physiol. 27, 369–377 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jackson, D. C. & Prange, H. D. J. comp. Physiol. 134, 315–319 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Standora, E. A., Spotila, J. R. & Foley, R. E. J. thermal Biol. 7, 159–165 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Alexander, R. M. Dynamics of Dinosaurs and Other Extinct Giants (Columbia University Press, New York, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  23. McNab, B. K. & Auffenburg, W. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A55, 345–350 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Brouwers, E. M. et al. Science 237, 1608–1610 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rich, P. V. et al. Science 242, 1403–1406 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Thomas, R. D. K. & Olson, E. C. (eds) A Cold Look at the Warm-Blooded Dinosaurs (AAAS Symposium 28, Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, 1980).

  27. Farlow, J. O. & Dodson, P. Evolution 29, 353–361 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bennett, A. F. in Biology of the Reptilia Vol. 13 (eds Gans, C. & Pough, F. H.) 155–199 (Academic, New York, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Michael P. O'Connor and James R. Spotila: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46805, USA

    Frank V. Paladino, Michael P. O'Connor & James R. Spotila

Authors
  1. Frank V. Paladino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael P. O'Connor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James R. Spotila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paladino, F., O'Connor, M. & Spotila, J. Metabolism of leatherback turtles, gigantothermy, and thermoregulation of dinosaurs. Nature 344, 858–860 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/344858a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/344858a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation