Researchers have found that king penguin chicks can drop the temperature of their internal organs by more than 15°C but then maintain the lower temperature metabolically.These birds can therefore be characterized as
A) varitherms.
B) endotherms.
C) pyrotherms.
D) heterotherms.
E) ectotherms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

King penguin chicks are considered heterothermic, meaning they can actively regulate their body temperature and enter a hibernation-like state where their temperature drops significantly but they are still considered endothermic (warm-blooded). This is different from ectothermic animals, which cannot regulate their internal body temperature and rely on external sources of heat to warm themselves. The terms varitherm and pyrotherm are not commonly used in biology and do not apply to this situation.

Researchers Have Found That King Penguin Chicks Can Drop the Temperature