Torpor use in the wild by one of the world's largest bats

Torpor is widespread among bats, presumably because most species are small and torpor greatly reduces their high mass-specific resting energy expenditure, especially in the cold. Torpor has not been recorded in any bat species larger than 50 g, yet in theory could be beneficial even in the world's largest bats (flying foxes; Pteropus spp.) that are exposed to adverse environmental conditions associated with energy bottlenecks. We used temperature telemetry to measure body temperature in wild-living adult male grey-headed flying foxes (P. poliocephalus; mean body mass: 799 g) during winter in southern Australia. We found that all individuals used torpor while day-roosting, with body temperatures as low as 27 °C. Torpor was recorded during cold, wet, and windy weather, strongly suggesting it is an adaptation to reduce energy expenditure during periods of increased thermoregulatory costs and depleted body energy stores. Our study has implications for our understanding of the distribution, ..., , , # Torpor use in the wild by one of the world's largest bats

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zgmsbccm8](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zgmsbccm8)

## Description of the data

We have submitted our raw data (ghff_winterdata.csv). Data on core body temperature were calculated from pulse intervals of temperature-sensitive radio transmitters implanted in each bat recorded by receiver stations located in the roosting camp. Data on body temperature were recorded when bats were within approximately 200 m of the receiver stations (i.e.,  at the roosting camp). Data on weather variables were sourced from a weather station (#023000) of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). 

### ghff\_winterdata

Variables:

* bat identity: a unique identifier for each bat
* body temperature: (°C) core body temperature calculated from pulse intervals of temperature-sensitive radio transmitters implanted in each bat recorded by receiver stations located in the roosting camp. Data on body temperature were rec...