Question

Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammal and birds ? Give examples.

Answer 1

Separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood allows a highly efficient supply of oxygen to the body. This is useful in animals that have high energy needs, such as birds and mammals, which constantly use energy to maintain their body temperature. In animals that do not use energy for this purpose, the body temperature depends on the temperature in the environment. Such animals, like amphibians or many reptiles have three-chambered hearts, and tolerate some mixing of the oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood.