Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Cold-bloodedness
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
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.

Cold-bloodedness: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 06, 2026
Invalidated site: Cool Cosmos - Warm-Blooded vs. Cold-Blooded. Feb 01, 2024
Media added. May 26, 2010
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: