This Mammal Shrinks Its Body, Skull To Survive During Winter
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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The masked shrew, a tiny mammal found in the Appalachian Mountains, shrinks its body and braincase during winter to conserve energy
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This shrinking is a seasonal adaptation where they reduce body mass by around 13% and their skull and leg bones also shrink
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This phenomenon, known as Dehnel's phenomenon, is believed to be an energy-saving strategy
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It's an extreme form of phenotypic plasticity, where an animal can change its physical form in response to its environment
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This phenomenon is rarer in nature than other energy-saving strategies mammals use, like hibernation
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It allows shrews to survive periods of food scarcity and colder temperatures
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As spring approaches and conditions improve, they regain their original size and their skull and leg bones also grow back
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This remarkable seasonal adaptation demonstrates a clever survival strategy for shrews in the face of a changing environment
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