body temperature

Introduction

body temperature, internal temperature of a living organism. Mammals and birds are termed warm-blooded, or homeothermic, i.e., they are able to maintain a relatively constant inner body temperature, whereas other animals are cold-blooded, or poikilothermic, i.e., their body temperature varies according to the temperature of the environment.

Sections in this article:

Introduction
Cold-blooded Animals (Poikilotherms)
Warm-blooded Animals (Homeotherms)

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