Ectotherm, any so-called cold-blooded animal — that is, any animal that regulates body temperature depends on external sources, such as sunlight or hot rock. Ectothermists include fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Ectotherms live in regions where temperatures fluctuate at certain times of the year to avoid overcrowding by hiding in dens or similar areas or by sleeping to a certain degree (e.g., in winter, fish may rest near and under large amounts of water). In addition, ectothermists use biological chemical techniques to combat the effects of extreme temperatures. Since overheating can damage proteins in an animal's body, during periods of heat stress, ectotherms release heat proteins, helping to stabilize other proteins and thus prevent their mutation (modification of protein cell structure).
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