Question

Which animal has the highest surface area to volume ratio?

• A. C
• B. A
• C. B
• D. D

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Smaller animals tend to have a larger surface area to volume ratios. Smaller animals have breathing and heart rate faster than that of larger animals. It’s particularly true of mammals and birds, which are mostly terrestrial and “warm-blooded.” These animals generate heat by increasing their metabolic rate, that is, they produce energy by using oxygen to metabolize food.

Animals generate energy within the volume of their bodies but lose it at the surface. Because smaller mammals and birds have a higher surface to volume ratio, they lose heat rapidly and have to generate more to keep their core temperature at the right point. Large animals with their lower surface area to volume ratio have fewer problems losing heat.

So, the correct answer is 'A'.