This countercurrent heat exchange aids whales in conserving body heat. When a baleen whale dives, blood is shunted away from the surface. This decrease in circulation conserves body heat. During prolonged exercise or in warm water a whale may need to dissipate body heat. In this case, circulation increases in veins near the surface of the flippers, flukes, and dorsal fin, and decreases in veins returning blood to the body core.
Excess heat is shed to the external environment.
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