Warm-blooded animals that are able to regulate their own body temperature.

Warm-blooded animals that are able to regulate their own body temperature.

• A. Endothermic
• B. Fish
• C. Insectivore
• D. Amphibians

Answer: (A)

Endothermy—the ability to regulate and maintain a stable internal body temperature through metabolism and often insulation. This is what “warm-blooded” describes, letting these animals stay active across a range of environments. Most mammals (and birds) are endothermic, which is why they’re the best fit for this description. The other ideas don’t capture that temperature-regulating trait: a fish is typically ectothermic and relies on the environment for heat; an insectivore is defined by diet (eating insects) rather than temperature control; amphibians are also ectothermic and depend on surrounding conditions to heat and cool their bodies.

Endothermy—the ability to regulate and maintain a stable internal body temperature through metabolism and often insulation. This is what “warm-blooded” describes, letting these animals stay active across a range of environments. Most mammals (and birds) are endothermic, which is why they’re the best fit for this description.

The other ideas don’t capture that temperature-regulating trait: a fish is typically ectothermic and relies on the environment for heat; an insectivore is defined by diet (eating insects) rather than temperature control; amphibians are also ectothermic and depend on surrounding conditions to heat and cool their bodies.