Question

Allens rule applies to

• A. Tribes living in high altitudes
• B. Mammals from colder climates
• C. Fish living in Antarctic water
• D. Desert lizards
• E. Marine invertebrates

Answer 1

The correct option is B Mammals from colder climates

1) Allen's rule is a biological rule postulated by Joel Allen in 1877.

2) According to Allen's rule, the mammals from colder climates have shorter ears and shorter limbs to minimize the heat loss.

3) Mammals which are endothermal animals, in cold climates need to conserve more energy as their exposure to the surface is more and which causes great heat loss and therefore energy.

4) Therefore these mammals from colder region show shorter extremities ( for e.g. ears and limbs) as compared to the mammals of the warm region.

5) Hence, Allen's rule is applied to mammals from the colder climates.

So, the correct answer is 'Mammals from colder climates'