Asked by Ginny Aldrich on May 05, 2024
Verified
The descriptive term ectotherm, when applied to reptiles, refers to the fact that ____.
A) they are warm-blooded
B) their internal body temperature varies with that of the external environment
C) their central body core works best when its temperature is the same as the ambient temperature
D) their optimum temperature for muscle contraction occurs only when the sun provides direct solar heat
E) they maintain their temperature by adjusting the production of metabolic heat
Ectotherm
Animal in which internal temperature is regulated by changes in behavior; for example, a fish or a lizard.
Reptiles
Cold-blooded, vertebrate animals that lay eggs and have skin covered with scales or bony plates.
Metabolic Heat
The heat produced by an organism as a result of its metabolic processes, which helps in maintaining its body temperature.
- Discuss the physiological shifts that assist various vertebrate lifestyle choices.
- Illustrate the significance of specialized attributes in the evolution of select vertebrate groups.
Verified Answer
CC
Christian CarturanMay 11, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
Ectothermic reptiles rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature, which means their internal temperature varies with that of the environment around them. This is in contrast to endothermic animals, which can generate heat internally to maintain a stable body temperature.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the physiological shifts that assist various vertebrate lifestyle choices.
- Illustrate the significance of specialized attributes in the evolution of select vertebrate groups.