Question

Which one of the following animals requires comparatively less energy for body maintenance?
(a) Mosquito
(b) Bird
(c) Fish
(d) Elephant

Answer 1

Hint: Body surface area plays a major role in the consumption or release of energy from the body. The large-bodied animal requires high energy for their body maintenance because they eject more energy while doing work while small-bodied animals require less energy.

Complete Answer:
Mosquito is an animal that requires a small surface area for its survival. It shows fast development and by reproduction, it produces a large number of larvae. Mosquitoes store energy reserves in the form of glycogen and fat. Fat helps in growth, reproduction, and at times of the non feeding period. Only fat body cells help to perform all body functions including protein synthesis and circulating metabolism that's why energy consumption is less.

Additional information:
Birds vary in size, the need for energy depends on body surface area. Birds have a high metabolic basal rate. It stores food in the form of glycogen and fat. It consumes mainly carbohydrates and starch which later after digestion get converted into glycogen and fat. Bird show thermoregulation, in case of colder area birds, raises their metabolic rate to prevent a decrease in internal body temperature and the case of hot area birds mobilize water to lose heat which provides evaporative cooling.
Fish is an aquatic animal therefore it requires less energy for body maintenance in comparison to terrestrial animals. Protein is the only nutrient important for normal body development and growth, but excess protein intake proves to be wasteful. Another important nutrient includes carbohydrates and lipids. Inappropriate intake of nutrients leads to ejection of the high accumulation of waste which deteriorates the quality of water.
The elephant body surface area covers 215 Square feet. It is the largest wild animal that's why it requires high energy for body maintenance. The elephant is herbivorous feed mainly on grasses, fruits, and young plant parts. It stores energy in the form of glycogen and fat. In the case of energy, deprivation fat is converted into glycogen to maintain energy balance.

So, the correct answer is ‘Mosquito’.

Note: Exotic breeds of any species require high energy for body maintenance as compared to indigenous species. Body production is also high of these but they are only able to survive in its habitat, change in environmental conditions causes improper body function and production.