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How does regional endothermy help white sharks remain active in cold water?
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white shark
White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) populations are frequently centred in highly productive temperate coastal waters (that is, waters characterized by an abundance of fishes and marine mammals).
While most fish are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, the white shark utilizes an adaptation known as regional endothermy to maintain activity in cold environments.12
This process relies on a complex circulatory system that conserves heat generated by the contraction of the shark's swimming muscles. By distributing this heat to critical regions of the body, the shark maintains a core temperature higher than that of the surrounding water. This form of warm-bloodedness provides the white shark with a significant physiological advantage, allowing it to remain active and hunt in waters that would be too cold for many other predatory shark species.21