BRAINCAKEEctotherms
An ectotherm is an animal that relies mainly on heat from its surroundings to warm its body. Its body temperature varies with the environmental temperature. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates such as insects are ectotherms.
Ectotherms produce some heat from respiration, but they have a low metabolic rate and little insulation, so this heat is quickly lost. Instead they gain heat mainly by absorbing radiation from the Sun and by conduction from warm surfaces such as rocks. Many control their temperature to some extent by behaviour, for example basking in the sun or moving into shade, and a few make simple physiological changes, such as some lizards darkening their skin to absorb more radiation.
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More in Homeostasis
- Thermoregulation
- Losing or Gaining Heat
- Control of Body Temperature
- Endotherms
- Thermoregulation in Endotherms
- The Skin
- Keeping Cool
- Keeping Warm
All 41 lessons in Homeostasis · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics