Thermal regulation, also called thermoregulation, is the means by which an organism maintains its body temperature at a stable level in various climatic conditions. There are several mechanisms by which an organism regulates body temperature and, furthermore, these mechanisms vary within taxonomic classes. The thermoregulation mechanisms are the following: endothermy, ectothermy, heterothermy, homeothermy and poikilothermy. In simpler terms, most people refer to animals as cold-blooded or warm-blooded, but this statement is not accurate, since the blood of all these animals is relatively the same temperature, it is the means by which the animal maintains its body temperature. that's the difference. The organisms we focus on fall into the Class Reptilia, Order Squamata, or squamate reptiles. Scaled reptiles are commonly known as lizards, snakes, or amphisbaenas (legless lizards). These organisms have excellent methods of maintaining body temperature and adaptations that provide the animal with the tools to live successfully in a wide range of environments. The general characteristics of scaled reptiles are: keratinized scales, which help resist desiccation; excretion of uric acid, which minimizes water loss; and are poikilothermic and ectothermic, meaning that the animal will thermoregulate based on its habitat and its body temperature will vary in response to the ambient temperature of the environment. Mechanisms of Thermal Regulation Endothermy is defined as the process by which an organism maintains its body temperature through metabolic regulation. It is a kind of internal "heater" for these animals. It serves to keep body temperature stable in most environmental conditions. However, at extreme temperatures, endothermy...... middle of paper ......p from the previous night, changes the body's posture to increase the contact surface with a hot rock surface to increase speed heat exchange, panting, limiting activity, and so on. Although reptiles use the environment primarily for heat exchange, there are physiological mechanisms that these animals have to aid in thermal regulation. For example, changing your skin color from a lighter shade of green to a dark shade of brown to increase heat absorption. Reptiles can also shut down bodily processes and enter a state of dormancy to survive cold temperatures or stressful environmental pressures. Reptile dormancy is known as brumation and is similar to hibernation. Reptiles usually enter brumation in late autumn, when temperatures and day length decrease. They will sleep for months, however, they will wake up to drink water, but usually not eat.