POIKILOTHERMIC Meaning and
Definition
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The term "poikilothermic" refers to an organism's inability to regulate its internal body temperature, resulting in temperature fluctuation based on the surrounding environment. This characteristic is commonly observed in various cold-blooded animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and most fish.
Poikilothermic creatures adjust their body temperature in response to the environment they inhabit. As the ambient temperature changes, their internal temperature reciprocates accordingly, without engaging in thermoregulatory mechanisms like shivering or sweating. This means that their body temperature can rise or fall depending on their surroundings, reflecting changes in external climate conditions.
To maintain metabolic activities, poikilotherms may exhibit behavioral adaptations such as basking under sunlight or seeking out shade or water bodies to cool down. They are highly reliant on external heat sources and thermally diverse habitats for survival.
The opposite of poikilothermy is homeothermy, which characterizes endothermic animals such as mammals and birds that can maintain a relatively constant body temperature through internal processes. Poikilothermy is considered a more primitive form of temperature regulation and is often associated with lower metabolic rates compared to homeotherms.
The term "poikilothermic" is derived from ancient Greek roots, with "poikilos" indicating "varied" or "irregular," and "thermos" denoting "heat." Together, the term implies an organism with temperature inconsistencies based on environmental factors.
Common Misspellings for POIKILOTHERMIC
- ooikilothermic
- loikilothermic
- -oikilothermic
- 0oikilothermic
- piikilothermic
- pkikilothermic
- plikilothermic
- ppikilothermic
- p0ikilothermic
- p9ikilothermic
- poukilothermic
- pojkilothermic
- pokkilothermic
- pookilothermic
- po9kilothermic
- po8kilothermic
- poijilothermic
- poimilothermic
- poililothermic
Etymology of POIKILOTHERMIC
The word poikilothermic is derived from the combination of two Greek words: poikilos, meaning varied or changing, and thermos, meaning heat or temperature.
Similar spelling words for POIKILOTHERMIC
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