Echidnas blow snot bubbles
It sounds disgusting but these snot bubbles serve an important purpose.
I’m not going to lie; echidnas have been the topic of discussion here lately. From forming a love train, to having four heads on their penises, they have quite a lot of unique features.
I mean even their appearance themselves are quite unique.
So, it’s no surprise that these little creatures have developed an interesting method to stay cool in Australia’s blistering heat: blowing snot bubbles.
No seriously, they actually blow snot bubbles. How freaken adorable is that? (No, it’s not gross.)
Echidnas don’t sweat, pant, or lick themselves to regulate their body temperature.
So, researchers were scratching their head trying to figure out why echidnas have been spotted in temperatures nearing 40°C or 104°F. As it turns out, when echidnas blow snot bubbles, the snot bubble evaporates. As it evaporates, it draws heat away, making their beak almost 10°C or 50°F cooler than the rest of their body. Since the echidna's elongated nose has a rich blood supply, this cooling method helps regulate the temperature of the entire body.
Not only that, but their spines also offer flexible insulation.
An echidna’s spine is made of tough, hollow hair follicles that provides insulation. When cold, the spines flatten to trap. When it’s hot, the spines rise, allowing heat to escape.
Echidnas can also allow heat to escape on the spineless parts of their body like their soft underbelly and inner legs. They do this by flopping onto cool surfaces and pressing their tummies against the shady patches of the ground or hollowed-out logs.
They have also been known to burrow under houses, or take refreshing dips in birdbaths, rivers and even beaches when it’s hot.
Meanwhile when it’s cold, echidnas will curl into a small ball to minimise heat lost from these exposed regions.
So, it short, echidnas do belly flops and snot bubbles to cool down. And when it’s cold, curl up into a ball. We should take a lesson or two from them.