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Thermoregulation
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===Endothermy vs. ectothermy=== Thermoregulation in organisms runs along a spectrum from [[endotherm]]y to [[ectotherm]]y. Endotherms create most of their heat via metabolic processes and are colloquially referred to as [[warm-blooded]]. When the surrounding temperatures are cold, endotherms increase metabolic heat production to keep their body temperature constant, thus making the internal body temperature of an endotherm more or less independent of the temperature of the environment.<ref name="Khan Academy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/principles-of-physiology/metabolism-and-thermoregulation/a/endotherms-ectotherms|title=Khan Academy|website=Khan Academy|language=en|access-date=2017-04-03}}</ref> Endotherms possess a larger number of mitochondria per cell than ectotherms, enabling them to generate more heat by increasing the rate at which they metabolize fats and sugars.<ref name="Boundless">{{Cite journal|last=Boundless|date=2016-09-20|title=Homeostasis: Thermoregulation|url=https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/the-animal-body-basic-form-and-function-33/homeostasis-194/homeostasis-thermoregulation-743-11974/|journal=Boundless|language=en|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404045811/https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/the-animal-body-basic-form-and-function-33/homeostasis-194/homeostasis-thermoregulation-743-11974/}}</ref> Ectotherms use external sources of temperature to regulate their body temperatures. They are colloquially referred to as cold-blooded despite the fact that body temperatures often stay within the same temperature ranges as warm-blooded animals. Ectotherms are the opposite of endotherms when it comes to regulating internal temperatures. In ectotherms, the internal physiological sources of heat are of negligible importance; the biggest factor that enables them to maintain adequate body temperatures is due to environmental influences. Living in areas that maintain a constant temperature throughout the year, like the tropics or the ocean, has enabled ectotherms to develop behavioral mechanisms that respond to external temperatures, such as sun-bathing to increase body temperature, or seeking the cover of shade to lower body temperature.<ref name="Boundless"/><ref name="Khan Academy"/>
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