In the animal world, there are multiple ways in which species ensure their survival. Adapting to ecosystems is crucial. Even in similar environments, each individual has its own mechanisms to ensure its existence One of these common classifications divides reptiles and amphibians as cold-blooded animals, when compared to other representatives of the fauna, such as mammals. However, do you know why they receive this name? What makes them different from other types of animals?
The body regulation system works in different ways; For this reason, on our site we want to tell you everything about the cold-blooded animals, examples, characteristics and curiosities. Keep reading!
Why are they called cold-blooded animals?
Before talking about the species that fall into this classification, it is necessary to clarify: why are they called cold-blooded animals?
They receive this name because they are animals that regulate their body temperature according to the environment, in contrast to those called warm-blooded, whose temperature is regulated from the energy they burn with food. Warm-blooded animals are known as endothermic animals, while cold-blooded animals are called exothermicanimals
Examples of exothermic animals
Among the exothermics, there is the following subdivision:
- Ectothermic animals: Ectothermic animals are those whose temperature depends on the outside.
- Poikilothermic Animals: The inside temperature varies according to the outside.
- Bradymetabolic animals: they are able to put their metabolism at rest when faced with a shortage of food and low temperatures.
Characteristics of cold-blooded animals
Cold-blooded animals use different mechanisms to survive, adapt to the environment, and keep their bodies at an ideal temperature. These are some of its features:
- Elements of the environment: they use the elements that the environment offers them, such as lying in the sun, swimming in other waters, burying themselves in the dirt or sand, etc., are ways to even out body temperature.
- Blood vessels: their blood vessels dilate and contract more easily than in endothermic species; thanks to this they adapt faster to changes.
- Enzymes: Their bodies contain more enzymes, responsible for reacting under various temperatures.
- Internal Organs: Most species have simple organs; that way, they consume less energy.
- Life Expectancy: Species typically live shorter lives than warm-blooded animals; sometimes just a few weeks.
- Food: they survive more easily than their counterparts in ecosystems with scarce food, since they require less energy.
- Physiological needs: Your physiological needs are less.
- Rest state: In cold weather, their bodies go into “rest”; they require less energy, since their needs are reduced to a minimum.
Now that you know the characteristics of cold-blooded animals, it's time to show you examples, characteristics and curiosities about them. Let's go there!
Examples of cold-blooded animals
Some of the most peculiar cold sangria animals are the following:
- Common Toad
- Komodo Lizard
- Nile crocodile
- Hawksbill turtle
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Common Anaconda
- Bullet Ant
- House cricket
- Migratory locust
- White shark
- Sunfish
- Gila monster
- Red tuna
- Green Iguana
- Green Lizard
Next, we will talk about each of them.
1. Common Toad
The common toad (Bufo bufo) is a well-known species with a wide distribution in Europe and parts of Asia. It can be found in forests and meadows, as well as in parks and urban environments with vegetation and water sources.
During the hot day, the common toad stays hidden in the grass or muddy areas, since it is easy to be confused by its color. He prefers to go out in the late afternoon or on rainy days, a time he takes advantage of to eat.
two. Komodo Lizard
The Komodo lizard (Varanus komodoensis) is a reptile endemic to Indonesia. It measures up to 3 meters and surprises with its large size and scavenging eating habits.
This is one of the vertebrate cold-blooded animals. It prefers to live in warm areas and is more active during the day. It is common to see it resting in the sun and it digs burrows in the ground to protect itself.
You may also be interested in this other article on Is it possible to have a Komodo dragon as a pet?
3. Nile crocodile
The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) inhabits the waters and banks of African rivers It is the second largest crocodile in the world, because it measures up to 6 meters in length In Ancient Egypt, the god Sobek presented the head of a crocodile of this species.
As a cold-blooded animal, the crocodile spends much of its time staying in the sun. In this way, it regulates its temperature. After this, it dedicates itself to swimming to hunt its prey.
4. Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a species of sea turtle that inhabits the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Currently, the IUCN Red List classifies it as an animal in danger of extinction It is easy to recognize, because its mouth is beak-shaped and the shell has characteristic spots.
Like other species of turtle, it is a cold-blooded animal. It remains in sea currents at temperatures that are favorable for its survival. Also, sunbathes to change its temperature.
Discover more marine animals in danger of extinction here.
5. Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is a snake found in the United States. Like most species of this genus, it has a characteristic rattle at the end of its tail.
This snake is active during the day and at night; To do this, it uses the benefits offered by the ambient temperature: it sunbathes and buries itself or hides in the vegetation according to the needs of its body.
6. Common Anaconda
The dreaded common anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is another cold-blooded vertebrate animal. This species is endemic to South America, where it can be found hanging from trees or swimming in rivers to hunt its prey. It is a constrictor snake that devours large mammals, such as capybaras.
As a cold-blooded species, it uses the environment to thermoregulate itself. The water, the sun and the freshness of the jungle and the plains are your allies when it comes to modifying or maintaining your temperature.
7. Bullet Ant
Did you know that ants are also cold-blooded animals? The bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) is one of them. This species is distributed in different areas of South America and its venomous bite is more painful than that of a wasp.
This species of ant regulates its temperature through body vibrations or tremors. If you want to know more ants, discover this other article on Types of ants - Characteristics and photographs.
8. House cricket
Crickets are also cold-blooded, and the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) is one of them. It measures only 30 millimeters and is distributed throughout the world, where it can be found in vegetated areas or near urban areas.
The cricket has twilight and nocturnal habits. During the day, it remains sheltered among the branches of trees, in caves or dark areas.
If you are interested in these curious insects, you may like this other article on How to raise crickets?
9. Migratory locust
Lobsters are cold-blooded invertebrate animals. The migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) is a species that inhabits Asia, Europe and Africa, where it forms swarms to move to different areas and search for food.
The very activity in the swarm allows the locust to maintain its temperature, as occurs with the shivering of ants.
10. White shark
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a cold-blooded marine animal. It is distributed in the waters of the entire planet, where it is found at the top of the food chain.
Thanks to its size and its constant movement, the shark is able to maintain its temperature. For more information, you can read this other article on Types of sharks - Species and their characteristics.
eleven. Sunfish
The sunfish (Mola mola) weighs up to 2 tons and lives in tropical areas around the world. It is easy to distinguish, as it has a large head and its body is flattened. It feeds on jellyfish, salps, sponges and other similar animals.
This species regulates its temperature by swimming, since it changes depth according to the needs of its body.
12. Gila monster
The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is a lizard found in the United States and Mexico. The species is poisonous and measures up to 60 centimeters. It is a slow and carnivorous animal.
The Gila monster lives in arid areas; however, even in these areas temperatures can drop to dangerous levels, especially at night. For this reason, they are among the cold-blooded animals that hibernate, although this process is actually called brumation: in low temperatures, their body goes into at rest to survive.
13. Red tuna
Among the cold-blooded animals, it is also possible to mention the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). It is distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, although currently it has disappeared in many areas due to indiscriminate fishing.
As with other fish, bluefin tuna use the muscles used in swimming to maintain their body temperature.
14. Green Iguana
It is not possible to talk about cold-blooded animals without mentioning iguanas. The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is distributed in South America and is distinguished by measuring up to two meters and having bright green or leaf-green skin.
It is common to see the iguana bathing during the day, since this process allows it to regulate its temperature. Once the ideal degrees have been reached, rest under the trees or in shaded areas.
fifteen. Green Lizard
The green lizard (Teius teyou) is common in Bolivia, Argentina and Bolivia. It measures up to 13 centimeters and has a body crossed by stripes and dots; males have colorful skin, while females have brown or sepia skin.
Like other lizards, the green gecko regulates its temperature using the sun and shady areas. And if you want to know more, you can consult this other article on our site about What do lizards eat? - Babies and adults.
Other cold-blooded animals
There are many other species that have cold blood. These are some of them:
- Arabian Toad (Sclerophrys arabica)
- Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
- Land Iguana (Conolophus pallidus)
- Baloch Green Toad (Bufotes zugmayeri)
- Olive Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Striped Iguana (Ctenosaura similis)
- Desert Crocodile (Crocodylus suchus)
- African Rock Python (Python sebae)
- Horned Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes)
- Black and white tegu (Salvator merianae)
- Kelf Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
- Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus)
- Bastard snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)
- Black Fire Ant (Solenopsis richteri)
- Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria)
- Black iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata)
- Peni (Salvator rufescens)
- Caucasian Spotted Toad (Pelodytes caucasicus)
- Emerald Boa (Corallus batesii)
- African ant (Pachycondyla analis)