Ectothermic

Ectothermic animals are those that cannot regulate their body temperature in relation to their environment. Ectothermic animals are often known as cold-blooded although this is a misnomer as the body fluids are usually warm. Reptiles are one of the usually cited examples of ectothermic animals but insects and other arthropods are also ectothermic.

Ectothermic animals commonly use the heat of the sun to enable them to become active.

Other names for (or types of) Ectothermic include:

• Cold-blooded

Related terms

• Endothermic
• Hibernation

Related groups of terms

• General biology

See other words beginning with E