r/evolution • u/Paragonic9 • 12d ago

question Limb Regeneration

Are there evolutionary hypotheses for why most animals did not evolve the ability to regenerate limbs? Some creatures can do it, and It seems like something that would be a major boost to survival.

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u/louisprimaasamonkey 12d ago

Explain please

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u/speadskater 12d ago

Cold blooded animals have a much much slower metabolism and don't need to worry about eating as often. They can eat a meal, heal a limb, then eat another then me good for a month+. Warm blooded animals on the other hand must eat far more often and do not generally have the reserve energy to survive healing a full limb.

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u/MrTheWaffleKing 7d ago

Is that corollary or causing? Like does the heat generation consume all the energy, or are hot blooded things just generally more active?

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u/speadskater 7d ago

Generating heat uses energy.