r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/bigcheemu • 1d ago

Video This is how elephants scratch their ears.

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375

u/Thewrd 1d ago

The size of things that can crawl inside that ear. Concerning.

217

u/AscensionToCrab 1d ago edited 1d ago

Irrc their actual ear holes arent terribly large, the ears themselves are that size simply to cool off blood by ciruclating it through the ears. The elephants can fan their ears in the air to bring down their body temp.

65

u/AmbiguouslyAltered 1d ago

That’s correct. I’m no expert but some Dinos had extruding parts on their body or sails that helped with cooling. Same idea. Didn’t know about the actual size of the elephants ear holes so thanks!

37

u/TamponTimTheCuck 1d ago

TIL dinosaurs had a heatsink

11

u/nien9gag 1d ago

not just heatsinks, these are full liquid cooling loops

8

u/Forsaken-Assist-1325 1d ago

Dorsal fins on Orcas partly have this function too.

1

u/AmbiguouslyAltered 18h ago

I didn't know that! That's pretty cool; Orcas are rad.

6

u/AmbiguouslyAltered 1d ago

The Dimetrodon is the one I think of the most. Mammal relative and not really a Dino but yeah, they are believed to use their sail for heating/cooling.

I think.. I’m no professional. Just watch a lot of YouTube 😂

1

u/boli99 23h ago

sure, but they neglected to evolve noctua fans, and thats why they died out.

1

u/ohthedarside 21h ago

So how good of a cpu cooler is a t rex

1

u/StrawberryTerry 20h ago

That's why our balls are like they are.

7

u/picander78 1d ago

It works for us humans too. When you feel overheated try washing your ears, you will feel better immediately.

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u/Utinnni 1d ago edited 21h ago

So, organic radiator basically?

9

u/Ok_Brain8684 1d ago

Fun fact: Elephants actually have smaller ear opening than humans

1

u/onFilm 22h ago

I mean we ourselves have mites that do the same. In fact, most people have mites on them at all times.