Heterothermic endotherms can reduce energy expenditure by using controlled reductions in various physiological processes, collectively called torpor. Torpor is an important mechanism which allows many small endotherms to survive seasonal periods of inactivity, but there are few data on metabolic rate during torpor (TMR) for small, tree-living bats during winter. Therefore, I report TMR of silver-haired batsLasionycteris noctivagans (LeConte, 1831) measured at various ambient temperatures (Ta). Bats were captured in October 2004 in southwestern Missouri, USA. NoL. noctivagans had been captured at this time in this area previously. Mean body mass of 3 individuals was 10.49 g±0.3 SE. TMR varied with Ta and mean TMR was lowest at 5°C at 0.363 ml O2/h (2.03 mW). These data indicate that the TMR ofL. noctivagans is similar to another migratory, tree-roosting bat (the eastern red batLasiurus borealis; Müller, 1776), and suggest that Ta near 5°C is energetically optimal for hibernatingL. noctivagans in this area.
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