The terms "ectotherms" and "endotherms" refer to different strategies that animals use to regulate their body temperature.
Ectotherms:
- Depends on external heat sources to maintain body temperature: Ectotherms, such as reptiles and amphibians, rely on environmental heat sources to regulate their body temperature. They may sunbathe to warm up or seek shade to cool down.
- Body temperature changes with the environment: Their body temperature fluctuates with the temperature of the surroundings, making them more susceptible to environmental changes.
Endotherms:
- Generate body heat to control body temperature: Endotherms, like mammals and birds, are capable of generating their own body heat through metabolic processes, allowing them to maintain a stable internal temperature regardless of external conditions.
- Body temperature stays steady: They have a relatively constant body temperature that does not fluctuate much with the environment, which supports consistent metabolic and physiological functions.
- Uses ATP to fuel shivering to raise body temperature: Endotherms can produce heat through muscular activity, such as shivering, which generates heat as ATP is consumed.
These distinct differences illustrate how ectotherms and endotherms each have evolved unique adaptations to survive and thrive in their respective environments.