Saving energy via short and shallow torpor bouts

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103572
• Publication Date: 2023-04-27T00:49:29Z
• Authors: Julia Nowack; Nomakwezi Mzilikazi; Kathrin H. Dausmann
• Keywords: Torpor; Energetics

Maintaining a high and stable body temperature as observed in most endothermic mammals birds is energetically costly many heterothermic species reduce their metabolic demands during energetic bottlenecks through the use of torpor. With increasing number heterotherms revealed diversity habitats, it becomes apparent that triggers patterns torpor are more variable than previously thought. Here, we report overlooked of, shallow rest-time (body >30 °C) African lesser bushbabies, Galago moholi. Body core three adult male bushbabies recorded over five months showed clear bimodal distribution with an average active modal 39.2 °C resting 36.7 °C. Shallow was two out males (n = 29 bouts) between June August (austral winter), temperatures dropping to overall minimum 30.7 calculated energy savings up 10%. We suggest may be ecologically important, yet mostly energy-saving strategy employed by mammals. Our data emphasise threshold need used care if aim fully understand level physiological plasticity displayed species.