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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
Cooling rates and body temperature regulation of hibernating echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
Stewart C Nicol1, Niels A Andersen
1School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia. s.c.nicol@utas.edu.au
Abstract:
Echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are amongst the largest deep hibernators, but it is difficult to get them to hibernate normally under laboratory conditions. We measured body temperature (Tb) in 14 free-ranging echidnas using implanted data-loggers. Cooling during entry into hibernation bouts followed a Newtonian cooling curve, and conductances calculated from cooling curves were identical to those observed in cold exposed euthermic echidnas. Comparison with a reference soil temperature demonstrated that echidnas showed behavioural thermoregulation during hibernation; early in the hibernation season echidnas preferred to hibernate in cool areas, while during the coldest months they moved to warmer hibernacula, giving a preferred Tb in the range 8-10 degrees C. Thermal buffering against excessive variation in Tb may be as important as maintaining a low Tb.
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