adjective
- of or relating to an animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its environment; cold-blooded
Usage: biology; also spelled poikilothermic
Examples
- Reptiles are poikilothermal animals that bask in the sun to warm their bodies.
- Fish are poikilothermal creatures whose internal temperature matches their aquatic environment.
- Unlike mammals, poikilothermal organisms cannot regulate their body heat internally.
- The poikilothermal nature of amphibians makes them sensitive to changes in water temperature.
- Scientists study poikilothermal species to understand how climate affects their metabolism.
- Snakes and lizards are examples of poikilothermal vertebrates found in various habitats.