Endotherm

Endotherms are animals that can control their body temperature by the regulation of their metabolic rate. Endotherms include birds, mammals, and insects. The advantages of being endothermic is that enzyme activity is increased and the ability to keep a constant body temperature. These animals can be active in cold temperatures. On the other hand, there can also be a disadvantage. Endotherms suffer because their rate of energy is at a very high cost of thermoregulation during inactive states. There are two types of thermoregulation. The first type is behavorial thermoregulation and the second type is physiological morphological thermoregulation. Behavioral thermoregulation is behavior changes that alter body temperature (Perkins, pers. com.). Physiological morphological thermoregulation is physiology changes to regulate body temperature (Perkins, pers. com.).

References Perkins,Marc. Personal Communication. 2003.