Allen's rule
Allen's Rule (pronounced: /ˈælənz ruːl/) is a biological principle named after the American zoologist Joel Asaph Allen who proposed it in 1877.
Etymology
The rule is named after Joel Asaph Allen, who first formulated the principle in his work "The Influence of Physical Conditions in the Genesis of Species".
Definition
Allen's Rule states that endothermic animals with the same body volume should have different surface areas that would either aid or impede heat loss. In simpler terms, it suggests that animals in colder climates will have shorter limbs and body appendages than animals in warmer climates to conserve body heat.
Related Terms
- Bergmann's Rule: This rule suggests that within a broadly distributed taxonomic clade, populations and species of larger size are found in colder environments, and species of smaller size are found in warmer regions.
- Gloger's Rule: This rule states that warm-blooded animals living in humid climates have darker colored fur than their counterparts living in dry climates.
- Endotherm: An organism that generates heat to maintain its body temperature, typically above the temperature of its surroundings.
- Ectotherm: An organism that regulates its body temperature largely by exchanging heat with its surroundings.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Allen's rule
- Wikipedia's article - Allen's rule
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