The marsupial Dromiciops gliroides is native to the temperate rainforests of Chile, where it faces strong changes in cold exposure and is subjected to seasonal periods of food shortages. In order to survive these environmental stressors it undergoes torpor, an energy-saving strategy that involves a physiologically controlled depression of metabolic rate and body temperature. D. gliroides is the only known South American hibernator, it exhibits short bouts of daily torpor in which it drops is body temperature closely to ambient temperature. The depth and duration of torpor depend on the joint effects of ambient temperatures and food availability.