Kleptothermy

Kleptothermy is a thermoregulatory strategy in which an animal gains heat from another organism, often through physical contact or shared shelter.

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Thermoregulation: The processes organisms use to regulate their body temperature. Kleptothermy is one way animals regulate temperature without relying solely on their own heat production.
Common vampire bat: A blood-feeding bat native to Central and South America. Vampire bats have been observed sharing body heat through close group contact.
Endothermy: The production of body heat primarily through internal metabolic processes. Kleptothermy gains heat from another organism rather than producing it internally.
Metabolic rate: The rate at which an organism uses energy through metabolism. Borrowed warmth can reduce the energy an animal must spend generating heat.
Thermal conduction: The transfer of thermal energy through direct contact between materials. Physical contact lets heat pass directly from a warmer organism to a cooler one.
Bumblebee: A robust, hairy bee in the genus Bombus. Bumblebee queens can obtain warmth from workers clustered around them.
Ectothermy: Dependence on external heat sources to regulate body temperature. Environmental heating differs from kleptothermy’s direct use of another organism’s heat.
Energy budget: The balance between an organism’s energy acquisition, expenditure, and storage. Heat gained from others can change the costs of maintaining body temperature.
Thermal radiation: The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves emitted by matter. Nearby animals can exchange radiant heat even without direct contact.
Honey bee: A social bee species that lives in perennial colonies and produces honey. Honey bee colonies use clustered workers to warm brood and maintain nest temperatures.