poikilothermy

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poi·kil·o·therm

 (poi-kĭl′ə-thûrm′)
n.
An organism, such as a fish or reptile, having a body temperature that varies with the temperature of its surroundings.
[Greek poikilos, spotted, various; see peig- in Indo-European roots + -therm.]
poi′ki·lo·ther′mi·a (-thûr′mē-ə), poi′ki·lo·ther′my (-thûr′mē) n.
poi′ki·lo·ther′mic (-mĭk) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

poikilothermy, poikilothermism

the state or condition of being cold-blooded, as reptiles and other animals. Cf. homoiothermy. — poikilothermal, poikilothermic, poikilothermous, adj.
See also: Blood and Blood Vessels
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
Life exists within a range of temperature with certain physiological adaptations such as poikilothermy, selection of preferred temperature in the natural water column, variations in water habitats, regulation of water loss and other metabolic processes (7).
Sunlight exposure enhances larval mortality rate in Culex quinquefasciatus Say
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