Re: heterotherm / ectotherm

Theseare two terms used for the same thing. Hetero means “other” in some long dead classical language, and Ecto means “from outside” or “on the outside”. Reptiles need to have a blood temp of at least 75 deg. F., but they have to get it from outside themselves (hetero, other, from another source than themselves, or ecto, from outside). Folks like birds and mammals (and a very few reptiles, most of which are extinct) make their own heat, and are called Endotherms (endo = inside, heated from inside out). The old terms were(and many still use them) heterotherm (or poikilotherm – don’t know the meaning) and homoeotherm. Hope this gobbldegook is interesting to someone – just sitting here running on….. Have fun! Alex Netherton The Appalachian Naturalist Asheville, NC http://www.appalachian-naturalist.com alex@…