Suppose that a small mainland tortoise and a large island tortoise are placed in the same pen at a zoo. Which tortoise will experience greater variation in body temperature over a 24 hr period, the small or large tortoise? A. Body temperature will be more variable in the small tortoise. B. Body temperature will be more variable in the large tortoise. C. There would be no difference between the tortoises.

The bigger the tortoises the better it can maintain its internal temperature and for longer than other smaller tortoises. What helps maintain the temperature is the help of food digestion in which raises the internal temperature of the animal. Along with the larger surface area and larger biological "mass" the thermal loss of the larger tortoises is reduced.

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