What is "homoiothermic"

Homoiothermal \Ho*moi`o*ther"mal\, Homoiothermic \Ho*moi`o*therm"ic\, a. [Gr. ? like + E. thermal.] (Physiol.) Maintaining a uniform body temperature, usually above the ambient temperature; h[ae]matothermal; homothermic; warm-blooded; -- applied to warm-bodied animals such as birds and mammals, because they maintain a nearly uniform temperature in spite of the great variations in the surrounding air; in distinct from the cold-blooded ( poikilothermal) animals, whose body temperature follows the variations in temperature of the surrounding medium.

Syn: homeothermal, homeothermic, homothermal, homothermic, homoiothermic.

adj. of birds and mammals; having constant and relatively high body temperature [syn: homeothermic, homothermic]