Cold-blooded animal

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Lizard sunbathing

As cold- blooded animals , synonymous poikilothermal animals ( ancient Greek ποικίλος poikilos "manifold", "changing"; θερμός thermos "warm") or ectothermic animals are animals that do not have a constant core body temperature and are therefore ectothermic .

Most animals are cold-blooded, for example all fish , amphibians , reptiles , insects and all other invertebrates . Plants , fungi and bacteria are generally cold-blooded , although there are some plants among the early bloomers that can significantly increase the temperature in the flower base in frosty temperatures. All birds and mammals , on the other hand, are equally warm (for restrictions, see Torpor ).

Basically, the body temperature of cold-blooded animals corresponds to the ambient temperature, which is why they are particularly affected by global warming . Because of the RGT rule , they are less active at low temperatures. However, some cold-blooded animals influence body temperature through their behavior. Many reptiles specifically seek out sunny or shady places, some reptiles even use the heat generation of species of the same temperature ( kleptothermia ). Sharks, on the other hand, increase their body temperature through intense exercise. State-forming insects, such as ants , bees , hornets or termites , generate heat through muscle tremors or provide cooling in the hive or in the building through ventilation or flapping wings.

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Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Global warming drives fish to higher altitudes . In: fischereiberatung.ch, accessed on February 8, 2019 (PDF; 278 KB)