Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago

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In this video, we look at thermoregulation in ectotherms such as the marine iguana. We explore the behavioural and physiological adaptations used by ectotherms to regulate their core body temperature.

Image credits:

Cat
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cat_Iran.jpg
درفش کاویانی, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pigeon
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feral_pigeon_2022_03_18_01.jpg
Alexis Lours, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Butterfly
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inachis_io_Lill-Jansskogen.JPG
Korall, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fish
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macropodus_opercularis_-_front_(aka).jpg
André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Snake
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mamba_Dendroaspis_angusticeps.jpg
Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Frog
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red-eyed_Tree_Frog_-_Litoria_chloris_edit1.jpg
LiquidGhoul edited by Muhammad, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marine iguana
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iguana_marina_(Amblyrhynchus_cristatus),_Las_Bachas,_isla_Santa_Cruz,_islas_Gal%C3%A1pagos,_Ecuador,_2015-07-23,_DD_23.jpg
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lizard at right angles to sun
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lacerta_agilis_Jaszczurka_zwinka_1.jpg
Halfpeacee, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lizard at right angles 2
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Male_Agama.jpg
Sankara Subramanian, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lizard at right angles 3
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australian_Water_Dragon_-_Intellegama_lesueurii_-_Flickr_-_JC_Merriman.jpg
Merryjack from Blue Mountains, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Basking lizard
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Side-Blotched_Lizard_Basking_(35637629836).jpg
Arches National Park from Moab, Utah, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Snake 2
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GR800471-Giant_Garter.jpg
Glenbrooks, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lizard car tyre
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common_lizard_basking_on_an_old_car_tyre_(8599704549).jpg
Ian Kirk from Broadstone, Dorset, UK, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Butterfly 2
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tawny_coster_(Acraea_terpsicore)_underside_2_Komodo_I.jpg
Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lizard in the shade
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lizard_in_the_Shade.jpg
Nic Noel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marine iguana in the sea
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amblyrhynchus_cristatus_DT_-W_I_Fernandina-_(36)_(20120620924).jpg
Diego Tirira from Quito, Ecuador, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marine iguana 2
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marine_iguana_(Amblyrhynchus_cristatus)_(16057547474).jpg
Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marine iguana 4
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amblyrhynchus_cristatus_hassi_125006489.jpg
juan_carlos_caicedo_hdz, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons