poikilotherm

views updated Jun 08 2018

poi·ki·lo·therm / poiˈkēləˌ[unvoicedth]ərm; -kil-/ • n. Zool. an organism that cannot regulate its body temperature except by behavioral means such as basking or burrowing. Often contrasted with homeotherm; compare with cold-blooded.DERIVATIVES: poi·ki·lo·ther·mal / ˌpoiˌkēləˈ[unvoicedth]ərməl; -ˌkil-/ adj.poi·ki·lo·ther·mic / ˌpoiˌkēləˈ[unvoicedth]ərmik; -ˌkilə-/ adj.poi·ki·lo·ther·my n.

poikilotherm

views updated May 08 2018

poikilotherm (exotherm) Organism that regulates its body temperature by behavioural means, e.g. by basking or burrowing. Such animals are often termed ‘coldblooded’, although when active their body temperature is little different from that of homoiothermic (‘warm-blooded’) animals. Poikilothermy is characteristic of lower vertebrates (fish, amphibians, and reptiles), but not of birds and mammals.

poikilotherm

views updated May 29 2018

poikilotherm(exotherm) An organism whose body temperature varies according to the temperature of its surroundings. Fish are poikilotherms. Compare ectotherm. See also endotherm and homoiotherm.

poikilotherm

views updated May 17 2018

poikilotherm (exotherm) An organism whose body temperature varies according to the temperature of its surroundings. Fish are poikilotherms. Compare ECTOTHERM.

More From encyclopedia.com