poikilotherm

noun

poi·ki·lo·therm | \ pȯi-ˈkē-lə-ˌthərm

Definition of poikilotherm

: an organism (such as a frog) with a variable body temperature that tends to fluctuate with and is similar to or slightly higher than the temperature of its environment : a cold-blooded organism

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Poikilotherms are also called "ectotherms" or "cold-blooded animals." Such creatures are the thermoregulatory opposites of "endotherms" or "homeotherms" - better known to most of us as "warm-blooded animals" - which are able to maintain a fairly high and constant body temperature relatively independent of the temperature of the surroundings. "Stenotherms" are creatures that can survive only within a very narrow temperature range. The "-therm" in all of these terms comes from the Greek thermē, which means "heat."

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The first known use of poikilotherm was in 1920

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poikilotherm

noun

poi·ki·lo·therm | \ ˈpȯi-ki-lə-ˌthərm

, (ˌ)pȯi-ˈkil-ə-

Medical Definition of poikilotherm

: an organism (as a frog) with a variable body temperature that is usually slightly higher than the temperature of its environment : a cold-blooded organism

— called also heterotherm