What is poikilothermia?

Poikilothermia refers to the condition in which an organism's body temperature varies with the temperature of its environment. This characteristic is typical of ectothermic animals, such as reptiles and amphibians, which rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Unlike homeothermic organisms, which maintain a constant internal temperature, poikilothermic organisms can experience significant fluctuations in metabolic processes based on environmental conditions.