Ectothermic (Adjective)
Meaning
Of animals except birds and mammals; having body temperature that varies with the environment.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- Turtles are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.
- Ectothermic animals like lizards often bask in the sun to warm themselves up on chilly mornings.
- Since fish are ectothermic, their body temperature is influenced by the surrounding water temperature.
- In colder climates, snakes are less active during winter because they are ectothermic and need external heat sources to function properly.
- Alligators are ectothermic reptiles that absorb heat from their surroundings, such as rocks or the sun, to regulate their body temperature.