0 the state of not being active and having no energy or enthusiasm
Many animals survive cold frosty nights through torpor, a short-term temporary drop in body temperature.
Such an extended period of torpor is close to a state of hibernation, not known among other birds.
Further, body mass declines throughout nocturnal torpor at a rate of 0.04 g per hour, amounting to about 10% of weight loss each night.
The two mental factors in conjunction are expressed as thina-middha ("sloth-torpor").
Coupled with the daily torpor is a process called re-warming.
Torpor is unaffected by alterations in photoperiod but is greatly affected by environmental conditions.
In autumn and winter the echidna shows periods of torpor or deep hibernation.
Such a capacity for torpor is rare in birds (or at least, rarely studied).
