How Splooting Helps Certain Animals Regulate Their Body Heat

Paleontologist Danielle Dufault of Animalogic explained the concept of splooting, the act of lying down in a spread eagle position, and why it is so important for thermoregulation in certain animals, such as dogs, squirrels, bears, cats, marmots, and rabbits. This pose allows the animal to release their body heat into and absorb the moisture from the cool ground.

For many animals who don't sweat, this is oneof the most efficient ways to cool down. Splootinghelps animals thermoregulate by cooling down theirbellies. The water content of the soil keeps it cooler than the air, and on very warm days,it can be up to 5 degrees colder. This is why you might catch your dog digging a hole in the garden

Dufault further explains that the pose also allows the animal to relax their tired back muscles.

Researchers believe that splooting not only helps the animalscool down but also helps them stretch their backsand relax their muscles. It's the animal versionof self-care, like having a cold drink in a poolon a sunny day, except the pool is made of dirt.

She also talks about how other animals stay cool.

Alot of other animals who can't sweat pant instead....Pigsget a bit of a bad rep for loving bathing in mud,but mud is one of the most efficient ways to cooldown...But if you don't want to get messy,a drier way of losing body heat is through yourears.....Eusocial animals like beeshave to worry about keeping themselves cool andpreventing beehive overheating. Air ventilation is key.