Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An organism that generates heat to maintain its body temperature, typically above the temperature of its surroundings.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In chem., a compound substance in the formation of which from its constituents energy is absorbed, and in its decomposition energy (usually heat) is evolved.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun biology a
warm-blooded animal that maintains aconstant body temperature
Etymologies
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Examples
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The term endotherm refers to animals (birds, mammals, some fishes and insects, and even some plants) that are capable of generating sufficient amounts of heat energy to maintain a high core temperature (e.g. 37-40 °C in birds and mammals) by metabolic means – usually derived from aerobic activity of locomotor muscles in animals and by unique biochemical mechanisms in plants (e.g., skunk cabbage).
Endotherm 2008
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Whereas an endotherm expends a tremendous amount of energy just to maintain a constant body temperature, a cold ectotherm can pass months at a time requiring little food or oxygen.
Amphibian 2008
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I'm not accusing biologists of being endotherm-centric Whiggs, but if the shoe fits ...
Even more recently extinct, island dwelling crocodilians Darren Naish 2006
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Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
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Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
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Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
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Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
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Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
-
Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
-
Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.
CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010
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