Which type of creatures are classified as cold-blooded?

Cold-blooded creatures are classified as ectothermic. This classification means that their body temperature is primarily regulated by external environmental conditions rather than internal metabolic processes. Ectothermic organisms, such as reptiles, amphibians, and many fish, rely on environmental heat sources to warm their bodies or cool down in cooler environments.

In contrast to ectothermic animals, endothermic creatures regulate their body temperature internally, maintaining a constant temperature regardless of external conditions, which is a characteristic of birds and mammals. Heterothermic refers to organisms that can fluctuate between ectothermic and endothermic states, but this is less common and not representative of the majority of creatures classified solely as cold-blooded. Homeothermic organisms are those that maintain a stable internal body temperature, typically independent of the surrounding temperature, which contrasts with the temperature regulation seen in ectothermic animals. Thus, the classification of ectothermic accurately describes cold-blooded creatures and their dependence on the environment for temperature regulation.