10 Examples of Poikilothermic Animals

The poikilothermic animals (more recently called ‘ectotherms’) are those that regulate their temperature from ambient temperature. For example: lobsters, butterflies, crickets.

This happens because they do not have the characteristic of many other organisms, which is to be able to regulate their body temperature generating heat: this is why this type of animals They are often called "cold-blooded" animals. The animals that are not poikilothermic are the 'homeotherms'(Or' endotherms'), among which all of the mammals.

Characteristics and behavior of poikilotherms

In general, the smallest poikilotherms adjust to room temperature, but there are some of them that can limit the extreme temperatures from the thermal behavior, and it is then that they modulate the short-term influence of the temperature variability.

Recently some scientists have found that daily fluctuations in the prevailing temperature, they alter the sensitivity of the species to warming caused by climate change, through a decrease in the thermal safety margins.

Advantages and disadvantages of poikilotherms

While endothermic animals generate heat from the energy contained in the food, ectotherms do not have to feed every day and may even be able to go months without feeding.

This provides them with a advantage, which is counteracted by the fact that they cannot inhabit environments with extreme temperatures, because they are highly dependent on environmental changes: endotherms, on the other hand, can live on habitats colder or warmer.

Poikilotherm settings

As in ectotherms, the regulation of temperature depends on the ability to regulate the heat exchange with the environment, it is frequent that some must be produced for the thermoregulation. These are divided into two groups:

Exceptions

There are some cases of animals that are not ectothermic, but that have similar behaviors.

Examples of poikilothermic animals

1. Cordylus lizard
2. Galapagos marine iguana
3. Desert lizards
4. Alligator
5. Grasshopper
6. Desert iguana
7. Lobsters
8. Butterflies
9. Crickets
10. Ants

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