Thermoregulation and Torpor in the Sugar Glider, Petaurus Breviceps (Marsupialia:Petauridae).

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Sugar gliders [P. breviceps] from southeastern Australia regulate their body temperature at 36.3.degree. C at ambient temperatures < 31.degree. C. Standard metabolic rate is 2.54 W/kg -0.75 (mean weight 0.132 kg) and the weight-specific thermal conductance is 9% lower than predicted by weight for a marsupial. Individual sugar gliders entered torpor after starvation, the torpor lasting for < 16 h. The body temperature of torpid individuals remained above 15.degree. C at ambient temperatures as low as 8.degree. C, while the metabolic rate was higher at 8.degree. C than at 15.degree. C. Arousing sugar gliders appear to use anaerobic and aerobic mechanisms of heat production. Groups of gliders huddled in the cold, reducing the lower critical temperature from 27.degree. C to 16.degree. C. Starvation of groups of sugar gliders did not always induce torpor in all individuals. The O2 consumption rate of a group of 4 torpid sugar gliders at an ambient temperature of 8.degree. C is lower than that of an individual under the same conditions. Huddling appears to be the most important mechanism for energy conservation for P. breviceps, and torpor may be used to overcome short-term reductions in winter food supplies.