Here are some important vocabulary words mentioned in the video:
- ectothermic: animals that are heated by an external source
- endothermic: animals that are heated by internal metabolism
- insulation: the use of hair, feathers, fat, or fur to reduce heat flow between an organism and the environment
- countercurrent exchange: the transfer of heat between fluids flowing in opposite directions
- evaporative cooling: water's ability to absorb heat as it evaporates
- hypothalamus: the thermostat-esque part of the brain
The extreme similarities between thermoregulation in terrestrial and aquatic animals supports the theory that both evolved from a common ancestor, because the separate evolution of such similar mechanisms is unlikely. Marine and terrestrial animals likely diverged in their methods of thermoregulation as they adapted to the differences in their environments, but the similarities remain as an indicator of their common ancestry.