Cold blooded vs Warm blooded animals: Definition, Differences & Examples

On the basis of regulating internal body temperature, there are two types of animals, that are Cold blooded animals and warm blooded animals. In simple language, animals that cannot regulate their internal body temperature according to the external environment’s temperature are known as cold blooded animals. While Animals that can maintain their internal body temperature irrespective of the environment’s temperature are known as warm blooded animals.

Cold blooded and Warm blooded animals

Cold blooded animals definition

Animals that cannot regulate their internal body temperature according to the external environment’s temperature are known as cold blooded animals.

The body temperature of cold blooded animals is keep changing as they move to different habitats due to changes in external temperature.
They cannot survive in extreme temperatures as their body temperature is not constant and keeps changing.
They can survive on very less amount of food as they do not need much energy to survive.
They are much more resistant to the disease and use their body temperature as a defense mechanism against diseases.
They lower their body temperature if they got any diseases which helps them to recover.
They have two phases i.e. Hibernation and Aestivation.
In winter, they rest in warm places. The winter resting period is known as Hibernation.
In summer, they rest in cool and shady places. The summer resting period is called Aestivation.
Examples of cold blooded animals are fish, reptiles, frogs, crocodiles, amphibians, bees, moths, and termites.
There are three types of cold blooded animals: ectothermy, poikilothermy, and bradymetabolism.
Ectothermy- Cold blooded animals of this group maintain their body temperature according to the external environment’s temperature. Example- Reptiles.
Poikilothermy- The body temperature of cold blooded animals of this group fluctuates with the change in temperature of the surrounding. Example- Frogs and turtles.
Bradymetabolism- Cold blooded animals of this group maintain their temperature according to the rate of metabolism. Example- Insects.

Warm blooded animals definition

Animals that can maintain their internal body temperature irrespective of the environment’s temperature are known as warm blooded animals.

The body temperature of these animals remains constant throughout their life i.e. in the range of 35 to 40 degree Celsius.
Mitochondria of warm blooded animals produce heat energy which is utilized to maintain the internal body temperature.
These animals are also known as homeothermic animals and use thermal homeostasis to maintain their body temperature.
They have a strong immune system to fight against diseases and a high metabolism rate.
These animals are active in both winter and summer or warm and cold.
Examples of warm blooded animals are Birds and Mammals.
There are three types of warm blooded animals: endothermy, homeothermy, and tachymetabolism.
Endothermy- Warm blooded animals of this group maintain their body temperature by the use of internal means like sweating, shivering, etc. For example a dog.
Homeothermy- The animal’s body of this group regulates its internal temperature irrespective of the external temperature. For example humans.
Tachymetabolism: These warm blooded animals use a high metabolism rate to maintain their body temperature. For example birds.

Major Differences (Cold blooded vs warm blooded animals )

Basic for comparison	Cold blooded animals	Warm blooded animals
Definition	Animals that cannot regulate their internal body temperature according to the external environment’s temperature are known as cold blooded animals.	Animals that can maintain their internal body temperature irrespective of the environment’s temperature are known as warm blooded animals.
Also Known as	Poikilothermic animals	Homeothermic animals
Types	Cold blooded animals are divided into three groups: Ectothermy Poikilothermy Bradymetabolism	Warm blooded animals are divided into three groups: Endothermy Homeothermy Tachymetabolism
Temperature dependency	Cold blooded animals are dependent on the external environment’s temperature.	Warm blooded animals are not dependent on the external environment’s temperature.
Metabolic rates	Cold blooded animals’ metabolic rate changes according to the environment.	Warm blooded animals have no effect on metabolic rate according to the environment.
Phase	They undergo two phases that are hibernation and aestivation.	Most of them do not undergo any phases.
Organ system	They do not have a high-energy organ system.	They have complex organ systems.
Heat regulation	They regulate heat in their body by stretching out limbs in sunlight, changing body colors, bathing under the sun, etc	They regulate their body temperature by different metabolic activities and adaptive activities like sweating, shivering, etc.
Resistance against diseases	They use their body temperature as a mechanism to fight against disease. They also lower their body temperature to recover.	Warm blooded animals have a robust immune system to fight against diseases.
Energy production	They gain energy in the form of heat to regulate their body temperature	They produce heat within their own body.
Survival	They cannot survive extreme temperature	They can quickly adapt themselves to environmental and temperature changes
Heat sources	Cold blooded animals get heat from direct sunlight.	They can produce heat themselves by consuming food.
Proteins	They have different proteins, which perform at different temperature	Proteins in them are not temperature specific.
Genome	Their genome can be more complex.	Their genome can be simpler.
Effects of body fat	Excessive body fat can overheat their body temperature and can cause death.	Body fat is important in warm blooded animals to maintain body temperature.
Examples	Examples of cold blooded animals are fishes, sharks, invertebrates, crocodiles, etc.	Examples of warm blooded animals are birds and mammals.

Examples of Cold blooded animals

Fish– sharks, tilapia, goldfish, guppy, wels Catfish, zander.

Reptiles- snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, alligators, and crocodiles.

Some Insects – Bumble bees, dragonflies, and moths.

Arachnids – Spiders, Scorpions, acari, harvestmen, ricinulei, schizomida, plesiosiro.

Examples of Warm blooded animals

Sea Mammals- whales, seals, walruses, manatees, and dolphins.

Other mammals – dogs, pigs, lions, elephants, cows, sheep, goats, and zebras.

Primates- humans, apes, and monkeys.

Cats- tigers, cheetahs, and domestic cats.

Rodents- rats, beavers, and chipmunks.

Weasels- badgers and meerkats.

Watch Video on Cold blooded and Warm blooded animals (by Learn Easy Science)

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References

https://thebiologynotes.com/cold-blooded-vs-warmblooded-animals

https://vivadifferences.com/difference-between-cold-blooded-and-warm-blooded-animals/

https://tailandfur.com/warm-blooded-animals-list/

https://biodifferences.net/difference-between-cold-blooded-and-warm-blooded-animals/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.3ad

https://byjus.com/biology/what-is-an-endothermic-animal/

https://animals.mom.me/amniotic-egg-vs-amphibian-egg-6032.html