an animal whose body temperature is determined by ambient temperature, and hence any animal except birds and mammals
ectotherm in American English
(ˈektəˌθɜːrm)
noun
Zoology
a cold-blooded animal
Derived forms
ectothermic
adjective
Word origin
[1940–45; ecto- + therm]This word is first recorded in the period 1940–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Rh factor, airlift, debrief, sealant, silkscreen
Examples of 'ectotherm' in a sentence
ectotherm
Estimated metabolic rates for smaller dinosaurs are more ambiguous, but generally approach or exceed the ectotherm boundary.
Herman Pontzer, Vivian Allen, John R Hutchinson 2009, 'Biomechanics of running indicates endothermy in bipedal dinosaurs.', PLoS ONEhttp://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2772121?pdf=render. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Relative to an ectotherm of equivalent body size, endotherms expend many times the energy to maintain high, stable body temperatures.
Michael Logan 2019, 'Did pathogens facilitate the rise of endothermy?', Ideas in Ecology and Evolutionhttps://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/IEE/article/view/13342. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Here we investigate the impacts of future climates on a model vertebrate ectotherm species using a large-scale warming experiment.
Elvire Bestion, Aimeric Teyssier, Murielle Richard, Jean Clobert, Julien Cote 2015, 'Live Fast, Die Young: Experimental Evidence of Population Extinction Risk due to ClimateChange.', PLoS Biologyhttp://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4621050?pdf=render. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Previous studies of zebrafish revealed genetically distinct populations of embryonic and adult melanophores, the ectotherm homologue of amniote melanocytes.
Erine H Budi, Larissa B Patterson, David M Parichy 2011, 'Post-embryonic nerve-associated precursors to adult pigment cells: genetic requirementsand dynamics of morphogenesis and differentiation.', PLoS Geneticshttp://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3098192?pdf=render. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)