endotherm

[en-duh-thurm]

noun

1. a warm-blooded animal.

endotherm

1. A warm-blooded organism.

2. Also called homeotherm

Word History and Origins

Origin of endotherm¹

First recorded in 1945–50; endo- + -therm

Example Sentences

Scientists expect endotherm animals -- animals that can regulate their own body temperature, like mammals -- to be able to protect themselves against fluctuating temperatures because they can maintain a constant body temperature.

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However, in a first-of-its-kind study of "warm-blooded" endotherms, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign team found tropical birds can handle thermal variation just fine.

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Some of the most famous sharks, like the white shark or the extinct megalodon, are unusual in being among the mere ~1% of shark species to be considered warm-blooded or "regional endotherms."

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David and his colleagues used inner-ear shape and size as a proxy for an animal’s body temperature and behavior to determine when mammals started to become endotherms.

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One disadvantage of being an endotherm is that it takes a lot of energy to keep your body temperature steady regardless of the environment.

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