cold-bloodedness

cold-bloodedness
See cold-bloodedly.

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also called  Poikilothermy, Ectothermy, or Heterothermy,  

      the state of having a variable body temperature that is usually only slightly higher than the environmental temperature. This state distinguishes fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrate animals from warm-blooded, or homoiothermic, animals (birds and mammals). Because of their dependence upon environmental warmth for metabolic functioning, the distribution of terrestrial cold-blooded animals is limited, with only a few exceptions, to areas with a temperature range of 5–10° to 35–40° C (41–50° to 95–104° F). For cold-blooded animals living in the arctic seas, temperatures may range from below 0° C to 10–15° C (below 32° F to 50–59° F). Poikilotherms do maintain a limited control over internal temperature by behavioral means, such as basking in sunlight to warm their bodies.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cold-bloodedness — cold blooded ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of animals, e.g. reptiles and fish) having a body whose temperature varies with that of the environment. 2) without emotion; callous. DERIVATIVES cold bloodedly adverb cold bloodedness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • cold-bloodedness — cold blood·ed·ness …   English syllables

  • cold-bloodedness — noun see cold blooded …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cold-bloodedness — noun the state of being cold blooded …   Wiktionary

  • cold-bloodedness — noun see cold blooded …   Useful english dictionary

  • cold-blooded — adj 1.) not showing or involving any emotions or pity for other people s suffering ▪ a cold blooded killer ▪ cold blooded murder 2.) a cold blooded animal, such as a snake, has a body temperature that changes with the temperature of the air or… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • cold-blooded — cold bloodedly, adv. cold bloodedness, n. /kohld blud id/, adj. 1. designating or pertaining to animals, as fishes and reptiles, whose blood temperature ranges from the freezing point upward, in accordance with the temperature of the surrounding… …   Universalium

  • cold-blooded — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of animals, e.g. reptiles and fish) having a body whose temperature varies with that of the environment. 2) without emotion; callous. DERIVATIVES cold bloodedly adverb cold bloodedness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • cold-bloodedly — cold blooded ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of animals, e.g. reptiles and fish) having a body whose temperature varies with that of the environment. 2) without emotion; callous. DERIVATIVES cold bloodedly adverb cold bloodedness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • cold-blooded — adjective Date: 1595 1. a. done or acting without consideration, compunction, or clemency < cold blooded murder > b. matter of fact, emotionless < a cold blooded assessment > 2. having cold blood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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