Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

Author:      Walter
Text:        What is the fundamental difference between cold-blooded and warm-
blooded creatures?  I know that reptile blood is a bit different than mammal 
blood, but is that the difference or is it a difference in the other cells of 
the body?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      psych
Text:        Warm blooded refers to an animals ability to maintain its body 
temperature at a constant level.  Cold blooded animal's bodies stay at the 
temperature of environment around them (more or less).  The mechanism by which 
a warm blooded animal does this is by generating heat, mostly through muscle 
movement (but by other biochemical processes too).  An example of this is 
shivering.  Warm blooded animals also cool themselves off by sweating, panting 
(and other ways).  In mammals the hypothalamic area of the brain has much to 
do with controlling these reflex processes.