Cold-blooded

Cold-blooded refers to the physiological trait of an organism to have its body temperature vary with the environment. This trait is common in many types of animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Cold-blooded animals are also known as ectotherms, a term that comes from the Greek words "ecto," meaning outside, and "therm," meaning heat.

Characteristics

Cold-blooded animals have body temperatures that fluctuate with the temperature of their environment. This is in contrast to warm-blooded animals, which maintain a constant body temperature regardless of their environment. Cold-blooded animals are able to survive in a wide range of temperatures, but they can become inactive or sluggish in extreme cold or heat.

Physiology

The physiology of cold-blooded animals is adapted to their variable body temperatures. For example, their metabolic rate changes with the temperature, increasing in warm conditions and decreasing in cold conditions. This allows them to conserve energy when it's cold and to be active when it's warm.

Behavior

Cold-blooded animals often exhibit behaviors to regulate their body temperature. For example, they may bask in the sun to warm up or seek shade to cool down. Some cold-blooded animals, such as certain species of snake, can even change their skin color to absorb more or less heat.

Evolution

The evolution of cold-bloodedness is thought to have provided early animals with a survival advantage, as it allowed them to conserve energy in harsh conditions. However, being cold-blooded also has its drawbacks, such as vulnerability to extreme temperatures and a slower metabolic rate, which can limit an animal's ability to hunt or escape from predators.

See also

• Warm-blooded
• Ectotherm
• Endotherm
• Homeotherm
• Poikilotherm

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