Amphibians and many reptiles have three-chambered hearts, allowing some mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, as their body temperature depends on the external environment.
How does the heart structure differ in animals like amphibians and reptiles that don’t regulate body temperature internally?
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Amphibians and many reptiles, which do not internally regulate body temperature, exhibit a three-chambered heart. This heart structure consists of two atria and one ventricle, leading to some mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. Unlike birds and mammals, these animals tolerate limited oxygenation variations since their body temperature relies on the external environment. The three-chambered heart simplifies blood circulation, but it doesn’t separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood completely. This adaptation reflects the evolutionary compromise between energy efficiency and the ability to adapt to fluctuating environmental temperatures in amphibians and reptiles.