![]() Once every few weeks, arctic ground squirrels must arouse from their torpor. By supercooling its body to below freezing, the ground squirrel slows its metabolism and minimizes its fat consumption so that it can sustain it through seven to eight months of hibernation. This species has the lowest body temperature ever recorded during torpor for a mammal. The arctic ground squirrel may not have quite as snazzy a burrow as the groundhog, but it’s still cool in its own way. The arctic ground squirrel can cool its body temperature to below 0 degrees Fahrenheit when in torpor. Groundhogs head into their burrows in the fall, and they can have as many as 10-20 metabolic arousals from torpor throughout their entire 3-month-long hibernation. The boutique borrows, which can have multiple “floors” and can measure as much as 66 feet long in some cases, have specialized chambers for eating, sleeping and even going to the bathroom. These rodents build incredibly long burrows. When groundhogs hibernate, they do so in style. It is a member of the squirrel family, but only rarely climbs trees. The groundhog, or woodchuck, is a rodent found throughout much of the northern and eastern parts of North America. The groundhog builds burrows more than 40 feet in length, with specialized bathroom and bedroom chambers. The fungus infects bats' noses, ears, and the exposed skin of their wings while they hibernate. When bats are in torpor during hibernation, their immune system is drastically reduced. The dark, humid and cool places where bats hibernate, called hibernacula, are often home to a deadly white-nose syndrome fungus. The total hibernation period can last for over 6 months, while they wait for the emergence of the insects they eat in spring.īut hibernation comes with a special danger for bats. This species and its relatives’ can reduce their metabolic energy costs by 98% by dropping their body temperatures to near freezing. Like the fat-tailed dwarf lemur, the little brown bat also goes through periods of torpor and metabolic arousal when hibernating. ![]() After a length of time, the lemur’s heart and temperature drop again and it goes back into torpor.Ĭave roosting bats, like this little brown bat, can contract a deadly white fungus in the cool and dark locations where they hibernate, also called hibernacula. This state is called “torpor.” But once every week or two, its metabolism goes back up and its heartrate elevates to rewarm the body. They metabolize or “burn” this fat during hibernation, which in this species can last up to seven months.ĭuring hibernation, this little lemur’s heartrate drops by as much as 95 percent and its body temperature follows suit. This lemurs’ tails can hold up to 40% of their total body fat. The fat-tailed dwarf lemur is the only species of primate known to hibernate, and it has a special strategy for doing so-it stores fat in its tail. In preparation for hibernation, these hibernating primates store up to 40% of their total body fat in their tails. Here are how five mammals put a unique spin on hibernation during the cold weather months.įat-tailed dwarf lemurs are aptly named. But then, sleep takes over, transforming any plans into a fully-fledged nap.įor some mammals, these winter naps last for months at a time and can involve intense physiological changes. In the dead of winter, it’s standard to grab a cozy blanket, accompanying hot beverage and relaxing form of entertainment. Hibernation is a strategy for surviving harsh winters when food sources are low. They do so by dropping their metabolism and heart rate to such low levels that they appear to be asleep. Like the ground squirrel pictured above, lots of mammals hibernate.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |