Ectotherms are cold-blooded poikilothermal animals, while endotherms are warm-blooded homeothermic animals. An ectotherm relies on its external environment to regulate its body temperature, while endotherms regulate its body temperature by producing heat from within.
Ectotherms have anaerobic metabolism, and they have lower stamina, while endotherms have greater stamina and also have aerobic metabolism. Some ectotherms live in an environment where the temperature does not change, so they can regulate their body temperature easily.
Ectotherms get affected by external temperature, unlike the endotherms that generate their heat from within. Examples of ectotherm are snakes, lizards, alligators, and turtles while an example of endotherm are mammals, humans, polar bears, and penguins.