poikilothermn.adj.
/ˈpɔɪkɪlə(ʊ)ˌθəːm/, U.S. /pɔɪˈkɪləˌθərm/, /ˈpɔɪkəloʊˌθərm/ Zoology and Physiology.
A. n.
A poikilothermic organism. Contrasted with homoeotherm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > internal organs and systems > [noun] > thermogenesis > being of varying body temperature > animal with varying body temperature
poikilotherm1930
1930 Ecology 11 221 Some hibernating mammals have considerably greater intelligence than any poikilotherm.
1950 C. L. Prosser in C. L. Prosser et al. Compar. Animal Physiol. x. 349 Aquatic poikilotherms follow changes in environmental temperature rapidly and precisely.
1989 Jrnl. Zool. 219 310 Crocodilians are the largest, and among the most slowly growing, living poikilotherms.
1997 Internat. Jrnl. Devel. Biol. 41 283 The mammalian embryo is acting as a poikilotherm and its energy needs are thus considerably less than if it were a comparably sized homeotherm.
B. adj.
= poikilothermic adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > internal organs and systems > [adjective] > relating to thermogenesis > having varying body temperature
poikilothermal1877
poikilothermic1884
poikilothermous1895
poikilotherm1954
1954 Science 2 Apr. 442/2 It has been generally appreciated that the rate of rattling of a poikilotherm snake is likely to depend upon the temperature of the animal.
1975 Advances Exper. Med. & Biol. 53 375 The heart of adult poikilotherm animals is either entirely spongious..or..covered by an outer compact layer with vascular supply.
1996 Jrnl. Compar. Neurol. 364 556 We found many features in common with ON-OFF amacrine cells in poikilotherm vertebrates.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1930