© Getty Images

Sweating -

Humans aren't the only animals with sweat glands. Other animals, such as cows, horses, monkeys, and apes, sweat too.

© Shutterstock

Sweating -

Sweat is made mostly of water, with some potassium, salt, and other minerals as well. As it evaporates from the skin, it carries heat away and reduces overall body temperature.

© Shutterstock

Sweating -

Sweat is produced in sweat glands, which are activated by the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls certain key biological processes, including heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

© Shutterstock

Mud -

Animals that don't sweat must find other means of cooling off. For pigs, hippos, boars, and buffalos, rolling in mud (i.e. wallowing) is the ideal summer refreshment method.

© Shutterstock

Mud -

Similar to sweating, wallowing helps animals cool down via evaporation.

© Shutterstock

Mud -

As water from the mud evaporates from an animal's skin, it carries heat away and brings down body temperature.

© Shutterstock

Ears -

The large ears of a jackrabbit (hare) contain a network of blood vessels that allows them to regulate body temperature as needed.

© Shutterstock

Ears -

If the outside temperature is above their internal temperature, the blood vessels dilate, increasing their surface-area-to-volume ratio. This encourages heat loss.

© Shutterstock

Ears -

Elephants also use their ears for temperature regulation. They flap their ears like fans, helping cool the blood flowing through the vessels in their ears.

© Shutterstock

Panting -

As we all know, our breath is hot. So when animals want to cool down, it's no surprise that they try to get their hot breath away from them as quickly as possible.

© Shutterstock

Panting -

Rapidly expelling hot air and drawing in cooler air is known as panting. When the cool air comes in contact with the moist lining of the lungs and throat, it helps the animal reduce its body temperature.

© Shutterstock

Panting -

Almost everyone has seen dogs do this. But you might be surprised to know that birds have been known to pant as well!

© Shutterstock

Pooping -

Several species of stork, as well as vultures, will defecate on their legs to cool down.

© Shutterstock

Pooping -

Since bird poop is mostly liquid, it works the same way that sweating does, through evaporative cooling.

© Shutterstock

Pooping -

As the poop dries on the birds' legs, heat is carried away, bringing down their body temperature.

© Shutterstock

Estivation -

Estivation is when animals 'sleep' through scorching temperatures. This is the opposite of hibernation. Estivation helps animals survive by slowing their metabolism, which means they don't need to eat as much during hot months.

© Shutterstock

Estivation -

Some animals, like certain snails, estivate to prevent drying out by retreating back into their protective shells.

© Shutterstock

Estivation -

Other animals, like the lungfish, estivate underground, burrowing into the mud near water, where it sleeps until the next wet season.

© Shutterstock

Throat vibrations -

As warm-blooded creatures that lack sweat glands, some birds have turned to  gular fluttering, i.e. vibrating muscles and bones in the throat.

© Shutterstock

Throat vibrations -

Gular fluttering helps regulate temperature by increasing evaporation through the membranes in the throat.

© Shutterstock

Throat vibrations -

The more a bird vibrates them, the more the moist throat membranes are exposed to air, allowing for better evaporation. Pelicans, herons, doves, owls, quail, and nighthawks are some of the birds that use gular fluttering.

© Shutterstock

Hiding -

Many animals seek shelter during the hot parts of the day. Reptiles control their body heat via the environment, so if an area is too hot or sunny, they'll simply move to a shadier area to cool off.

© Shutterstock

Hiding -

Felines, from your regular house cat to the mighty lion, seek shade when they want to cool down.

© Shutterstock

Hiding -

Turtles will go into cooler, deeper waters during heat waves. Freshwater fish, such as bass, also seek deeper waters.

© Shutterstock

Shedding -

Nearly all mammals with shed fur in some way to cope with heat. It's their bodies' way of prepping for a change in seasons.

© Shutterstock

Shedding -

In winter, animals in temperate zones put on heavy coats for combating the cold, but in summer they need lighter wear.

© Shutterstock

Shedding -

Hormones in the body cause their dense winter coats to fall off, usually in patches, to be replaced with a lighter summer coat.

© Shutterstock

Taking a dip -

And then there's the classic dip! Many animals seek water to cool down. For example, elephants often cool off in a pond or a stream.

© Shutterstock

Taking a dip -

Unlike most cats, tigers enjoy taking baths to keep them cool during the hottest parts of the day. They'll soak for up to an hour, but neck deep only.

© Shutterstock

Taking a dip -

Spot a shallow bird bath, and you'll find that birds also like to splash around, both to cool off and to clean their feathers and skin.

Sources: (Smithsonian Magazine) (National Wildlife Federation)

See also: How to take care of your pets during a heat wave

© Shutterstock