Reptiles

do reptiles have warm or cold blood


Do Reptiles Have Warm or Cold Blood ?

Reptiles are a group of vertebrate animals that include snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. A common characteristic among reptiles is they have what is known as “cold-blooded” or “ectothermic” metabolism. This means that the temperature of their internal body is built on the temperatures in their external environment. But, do reptiles really have cold blood?

What Does Cold Blooded Actually Mean?

Most people associate “cold-blooded” with the idea of a reptile’s internal body temperature being cold; however, the definition is more specific than that. Cold-blooded, or ectothermic, is a term used to describe animals that rely on external sources, such as the sun, to warm their bodies and regulate their temperature. It differs from “warm-blooded,” or “endothermic” animals, which can internally generate and regulate their body temperatures.

Do Reptiles Have Warm Or Cold Blood?

Reptiles are considered to be strictly ectothermic animals that rely on the environment around them to warm their bodies and regulate their internal temperature. They are not able to internally generate body heat; however, they can preserve their body heat more efficiently than other animals. So, while a reptile’s body temperature is determined by its environment, they do possess blood that is slightly warmed compared to their surrounding environment, making it somewhat “warm blooded”.

Do Reptiles Possess Internal Body Heat?

In short, yes. Reptiles possess a form of internal body heat, due to the fact that their blood is slightly warmer than the environment around them. Reptiles will position themselves in direct sunlight or near warm objects, allowing the sun or object to become their source of external body heat. This allows them to warm their bodies and maintain a somewhat consistent internal temperature.

The Benefits of Cold-Bloodedness

Reptiles and other ectothermic animals benefit from their thermal reliance in many ways. Adapting their temperature to the environment is a form of financial preservation: cold-blooded animals don’t need to expend a lot of energy keeping their bodies warm, and their metabolism slows when the environment is cooler, conserving energy. In addition, the ability to adjust to their environment allows them to survive in extreme temperatures, a trait other animals cannot match.

Reptiles, by definition, cannot generate their own body heat; however, their blood is slightly warmer than their environment, making them slightly “warm-blooded.” This unique quality is a result of their reliance on external sources to regulate their body temperatures, allowing them to survive in a variety of climates and environments.

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