Definition of "poikilothermic" [poikilothermic]

• Having a body temperature that varies depending on the outside temperature. (adjective)

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• "A few of these biosigns were, like those of all Gorn castes, endothermic or poikilothermic—dependent upon external factors for the regulation of body temperature."
• "Hogben & Kirk were trying to demonstrate that the body temperatures of animals like slugs and earthworms whose external surfaces are always wet are not necessarily in equilibrium with the temperature of their surroundings, despite the fact that they are poikilothermic or cold-blooded."
• "Reptiles are poikilothermic, which means that they can not regulate heat internally (as opposed to birds and mammals which are homeothermic)."