Question

Distinguish between gigantothermy and kleptothermy.

Answer 1

Gigantothermy is a phenomenon by which a larger ectothermic animals who have bigger body size and small surface area has the ability to keep their body temperature at a constant level as they have smaller surface area to volume ratio. So they will acquire or loses temperature from environment at a slower rate compared to animals who have larger surface area to volume ratio. It is sometimes called as ectothermic homeothermy. A classic example is the ability of white shark's or blue whale's  ability to keep it body temperature at a constant level in different climate.

Kleptothermy is a from of thermoregulation done by both endodermic and ectodermic animals by which one animal transfer or shares it's body heat to another animal by their close contact (huddling) with each other. Example for this thermoregulation is very common. Most of the small birds lizards and snakes do this form of thermoregulation to keep their body temperature.