Cold-bloodedness: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	poikilothermy • ectothermy • heterothermy

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snake-necked turtles

Cold-blooded animals such as lizards maintain safe body temperatures by moving into locations of favourable temperature. This behaviour is largely influenced by thermoreceptors in the skin.

A diagram shows a terrestrial reptile on rocks, illustrating energy exchanges with the environment through arrows labeled for reflected radiation, evaporation, direct solar radiation, thermal reradiation, convection, and conduction of heat between the lizard and the rock. Environmental and body temperatures are also noted.

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Topics

Why are reptiles cold-blooded?Ectotherm Body heat Warm-bloodedness