Also: hibernation, daily torpor, dwarf lemur, heterothermy
Some mammals and birds can drop their metabolism and body temperature for hours (daily torpor) or weeks at a time (hibernation) to save energy.
Values as stated in the cited paper's abstract.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recently extinct mammals that did not use torpor | 93.5% of 61 species | Geiser 2009 |
Search Google Patents for this topic: all patents · recent applications (2022+)
Patent searches are generated from the topic's key terms; a patent is a legal claim, not proof that something works. See the Patents page.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Export this topic's references: BibTeX · RIS (Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley)
Geiser compared torpid mammals and birds and found species using only daily torpor mostly rely on falling body temperature to cut metabolic rate, while hibernators also actively inhibit their metabolism.
As reported in: Geiser (2004). Metabolic Rate and Body Temperature Reduction During Hibernation and Daily Torpor. Annual Review of Physiology. doi:10.1146/annurev.physiol.66.032102.115105
Abstract only
Dausmann and colleagues found a tropical primate, the fat-tailed dwarf lemur of Madagascar, hibernates, and that its slowed metabolism is not necessarily tied to a low body temperature.
As reported in: Dausmann, Glos, Ganzhorn et al. (2004). Hibernation in a tropical primate. Nature. doi:10.1038/429825a
Abstract only
Geiser and Turbill found that 93.5% of 61 recently extinct mammal species kept a constant high body temperature, suggesting the ability to use torpor or hibernation helps protect species from extinction.
As reported in: Geiser, Turbill (2009). Hibernation and daily torpor minimize mammalian extinctions. Naturwissenschaften. doi:10.1007/s00114-009-0583-0
Abstract only