HETEROTHERMIC Meaning and
Definition
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Heterothermic refers to the physiological characteristic in animals where their body temperature can fluctuate or vary depending on the external environment. It is the opposite of homeothermic, where the body maintains a relatively constant internal temperature.
In heterothermic animals, such as reptiles, amphibians, and certain mammals, their body temperature is not regulated internally but rather influenced by factors like sunlight, ambient temperature, and behavior. These organisms exhibit a range of body temperature variations throughout the day or season, allowing them to adapt to different environmental conditions.
For instance, reptiles are known to be ectothermic or heterothermic, relying on external sources such as the sun to warm up their bodies. They can be seen basking under the sun to increase their body temperature, which in turn helps facilitate metabolic processes. Conversely, during colder periods, they may retreat into burrows or hibernation to conserve energy and protect themselves from extreme temperature fluctuations.
Heterothermic mammals, such as bats and certain small mammals, exhibit torpor, a state of decreased physiological activity and reduced body temperature. Torpor allows them to conserve energy during periods of scarcity or unfavorable conditions. These animals can enter torpor for hours or even days, significantly reducing their metabolic rate and adapting to their environment.
Overall, heterothermic animals demonstrate the ability to adjust their body temperature in response to environmental changes, providing them with an evolutionary advantage to survive and thrive in diverse habitats and climatic conditions.
Common Misspellings for HETEROTHERMIC
- geterothermic
- beterothermic
- neterothermic
- jeterothermic
- ueterothermic
- yeterothermic
- hwterothermic
- hsterothermic
- hdterothermic
- hrterothermic
- h4terothermic
- h3terothermic
- hererothermic
- heferothermic
- hegerothermic
- heyerothermic
- he6erothermic
- he5erothermic
- hetwrothermic
Etymology of HETEROTHERMIC
The word "heterothermic" derives from the combination of two Greek roots: "hetero-" meaning "different" or "other", and "therm-" derived from "thermos", meaning "heated" or "warm". In biology, "thermic" is used to describe temperature-related terms. Thus, "heterothermic" refers to an organism or animal that has the ability to maintain different or varying body temperatures.
Similar spelling words for HETEROTHERMIC
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