EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -ectotherm, any so-called cold-blooded animal-that is, any animal whose regulation of body temperature depends on external sources, such as sunlight or a heated rock surface. The ectotherms include the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.

Detailed explanation-2: -In vertebrates, endothermy is typically associated with birds and mammals while fishes, amphibians, and reptiles are generally typified as ectotherms.

Detailed explanation-3: -Amphibians are ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates that do not maintain their body temperature through internal physiological processes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Although most fishes are strictly ectothermic, there are (of course) also fish that attain a regional endothermy in important organs and tissues, such as muscles, eyes, visceral organs, and the brain (69).

Detailed explanation-5: -Reptiles and amphibians are ectotherms, while birds are endotherms. An ectotherm (reptile/amphibian) relies primarily on its external environment to regulate the temperature of its body. Endotherms (birds) are able to regulate their body temperatures by producing heat within the body.