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homeothermic

homeothermic

9.8
Keeping a steady, fairly high body temperature no matter the weather
  • adjective
  • /ˌhoʊmiˈθɜrmɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : homeotérmico
  • Birds and mammals are homeothermic, which means they maintain a stable internal body temperature regardless of the environment.

Examples

  • If we define a group called the homeothermic tetrapods, it contains the birds and the mammals.

  • Homeothermic animals don't usually have lipids congealing in their guts, after all...

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  • Among the various species of wildlife, the homeothermic animals are capable of regulating their body heat in cold climates.

  • In contrast to reptiles, which are ectothermic, homeothermic creatures can sustain their body temperatures through metabolic processes.

Synonyms

warm-blooded
vshomeothermic
  • Specialized
4 3.5

An animal that keeps a steady temperature inside its body, like humans and birds

is the same idea but limited to birds and mammals in the definition
homothermic
vshomeothermic
  • Specialized
9.3

Animals such as birds and mammals that keep a steady warm body temperature no matter the weather

is the same meaning but uses a different spelling form
homoiothermic
vshomeothermic
  • Specialized
9.9

Having a steady warm body temperature even when the air is cold or hot

is identical in meaning but differs only as an alternate form

Antonyms

poikilothermic
  • Specialized
9.9

Body temperature changes with the air or water around the animal

How Warm-Blooded

homeothermic
  • Specialized
9.8
ectothermic
  • Specialized
1 9.1

Surface Forms

homeothermic positive

Morphology

homeothermic = homeotherm (semi-transparent) = homeo + therm + ic

Formed by the regular adjectival suffix '-ic' added to the noun 'homeotherm', so the immediate derivation is straightforward.

Etymology

The word homeothermic comes from the Greek parts homeo- meaning 'same' and therm meaning 'heat', the same root in thermometer. So a homeothermic animal keeps its body 'heat' almost the same and keeps a steady temperature no matter the weather.