Menu

Ectotherm for Dummies

noun


What does Ectotherm really mean?

57 1
57
Ectotherm means an animal that depends on external sources of body heat to regulate its own body temperature. So, basically, it means that these animals can't produce their own body heat like we do - they have to rely on things like the sun or the ground to warm them up.

Think of it like this: imagine you're sitting in the sun on a cold day and you start to warm up because the sun's heat is making you feel nice and toasty. That's kind of how ectotherms work - they need that outside heat to feel warm.

There are also animals called endotherms that can produce their own body heat, like us humans. So, ectotherms are different from endotherms in that way.

Some examples of ectotherms are reptiles, amphibians, and some types of fish. They all rely on their environment to keep them at the right temperature.

So, next time you see a lizard basking in the sun, you can think to yourself, "That lizard is an ectotherm, just like all the other cold-blooded animals out there!"

Revised and Fact checked by John Smith on 2023-11-17 08:05:49

Ectotherm In a sentece

Learn how to use Ectotherm inside a sentece

  • A lizard basking in the sun to warm up its body
  • A turtle resting on a rock to absorb heat from the environment
  • A snake hiding in a warm burrow to regulate its body temperature
  • A frog sitting in a shaded area to cool down its body
  • A fish swimming in shallow waters to take advantage of the warmth from the sun

Ectotherm Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Ectotherm Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.