The difference features of ectoterm and endoterm animal

Endotherms - regulate body temperature by internal heat production, (birds, mammals), Regulators - 35-40°C, Constancy of performance over wide range of temperatures, Large expenditure of energy to maintain internal heat (large food requirements) (cost), At higher temperature, they alter insulation, shunt blood flow to surface,  seek out cool habitats

Ectotherms - depend on external heat sources, Depend on external heat sources, Conformers, Can moderate or modify heat exchange with environment by: Developing various body coverings (reflective), Simple or complex behaviors and Complex physiological process (be shivering). Changes in body temperature result in changes in rates at which physiological processes occur, Temperature coefficient = Q10 For every 10°C increase in temperature, a reaction rate (e.g., metabolism, development) increases two times Q10 = 2, May be higher or lower in some organisms for some reactions

However, in mammals, not all the body is kept as a constant temperature, but only the body core. Body core mainly consists of the vital organs of the chest and abdomen, and the brain. The skin and other tissues closer to the body surface always have low temperature than the core, because of the heat exchange between body surface and surroundings.

Ectotherm vs Endotherm

• Ectotherms warm their bodies by absorbing heat from the surrounding environment, whereas Endotherms produce heat by their metabolic activities.
•  Ectotherms have large variations in normal body temperatures while endotherms maintain their body temperature in a fairly constant value.
•  Most invertebrates, fishes, reptiles, and amphibians are ectotherms while all the mammals and bird are endotherms.
• The body temperature of ectotherms changes with the surrounding temperature changes, while that of endotherms does not change much with the surrounding temperature changes.
•  Ectotherms mainly use behavioral control mechanisms to control their body, whereas endotherms use both internal physiological control mechanisms and behavioral ones.
• Endotherms can remain active over a wide range of environmental conditions than ectotherms. Therefore, the geological distribution and ecological distribution of endotherms are higher than ectoderms.
•  Number of species of ectotherms is higher than that of endotherms.
• To maintain the body temperatures in a constant value, endotherms require much more food than ectotherms of equivalent size.
•  Metabolic rates of endotherms are very high than ectotherms at a given body mass.