poikilothermic

9.9

Body temperature changes with the air or water around the animal

adjective
/ˌpɔɪkɪləˈθɜrmɪk/

Specialized

: poiquilotérmico

Reptiles are poikilothermic, relying on the sun to regulate their body temperature.

Examples

During the day, the poikilothermic frog basks in the sunlight to warm up.
In cold environments, poikilothermic animals may become sluggish as their body temperature drops.
"And it's poikilothermic, as I thought," he said.

Fiction book (1998)

Synonyms

cold-blooded

vspoikilothermic

Specialized

5 3.7

An animal whose body temperature changes with the air or water temperature

uses the scientific description instead of casual or informal wording

ectothermic

vspoikilothermic

Specialized

1 9.1

Having a body temperature that changes with the surrounding air or water

focuses on temperature varying with the environment rather than regulation source

poikilothermous

vspoikilothermic

Specialized

9.9

Having a body temperature that changes with the environment, like cold-blooded animals

is the standard scientific term rather than the alternative form

heterothermic

vspoikilothermic

Specialized

9.9

An animal, often a reptile or fish, whose body temperature changes with the surroundings

is the broader descriptor without implying those exclusions

How Temperature-Stable

homeothermic

Specialized

9.8

heterothermic

Specialized

9.9

poikilothermic

Specialized

9.9

Surface Forms

poikilothermic positive

Morphology

poikilothermic = poikilotherm (opaque) = poikilo + therm + ic

Derivation from the noun 'poikilotherm' to the adjective with '-ic' is a regular and predictable adjectival formation.

Etymology

Poikilothermic is made of two parts: poikilo- meaning 'changeable' and -thermic meaning 'heat', the same root as in thermometer. So a poikilothermic animal has body 'heat' that changes with the outside temperature.