You are studying a large tropical reptile that has a high and relatively stable body temperature. How would you determine whether this animal is an endotherm or an ectotherm?
A) You know from its high and stable body temperature that it must be an endotherm.
B) You know that it is an ectotherm because it is not a bird or mammal.
C) You subject this reptile to various temperatures in the lab and find that its body temperature and metabolic rate change with the ambient temperature. You conclude that it is an ectotherm.
D) You note that its environment has a high and stable temperature. Because its body temperature matches the environmental temperature, you conclude that it is an ectotherm.
E) You measure the metabolic rate of the reptile, and because it is higher than that of a related species that lives in temperate forests, you conclude that this reptile is an endotherm and its relative is an ectotherm.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The only way to determine if the animal is an endotherm or ectotherm is to test whether its body temperature and metabolic rate change with changes in ambient temperature. If the animal's body temperature and metabolic rate are affected by changes in temperature, it is an ectotherm. If they remain stable regardless of ambient temperature, it is an endotherm.

You Are Studying a Large Tropical Reptile That Has a High