Meaning & use
poikilotherm
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
An animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its environment instead of staying constant.
Grammar: Takes an or the: a poikilotherm; the poikilotherms.
Patterns
- a poikilotherm such as something
A lizard is a poikilotherm, so it basks in the sun to warm up.
Because it is a poikilotherm, the fish becomes sluggish in cold water.
Most reptiles and amphibians are poikilotherms.
Word forms
| plural | poikilotherms |
|---|
Common combinations
- a typical poikilotherm
- A frog is a typical poikilotherm.
- poikilotherm species
- Poikilotherm species often hibernate in winter.
- unlike a poikilotherm
- Unlike a poikilotherm, a bird keeps a steady body temperature.
- poikilotherm metabolism
- Poikilotherm metabolism slows down in the cold.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ectotherm
- An ectotherm depends on outside heat to warm its body, which stresses the heat source, while poikilotherm stresses that body temperature varies.
- cold-blooded animal
- This is the everyday phrase, but it is less precise because some of these animals can be quite warm.
Opposites
Word family
- poikilothermic adjective
- having a body temperature that varies
- poikilothermy noun
- the condition of being a poikilotherm
- homeotherm noun
- an animal that keeps a steady body temperature
Commonly confused: poikilotherm or ectotherm?
poikilotherm vs ectotherm
Ectotherm and poikilotherm overlap but are not identical; an ectotherm relies on external heat, while a poikilotherm has a changing body temperature.
Practice
Which animal is a poikilotherm?
Choose one answer.
A snake's body temperature changes with its surroundings. Dogs, sparrows and dolphins keep a fairly steady temperature.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “poikilotherm”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.