# What are the body temperatures of various mammals?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 1, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018 "2004-10-01T13:39:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018/1 "2004-10-01T13:39:08Z")

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In another thread it is noted that cats have a body temperature of about 101.5 degrees. Fascinating; I didn’t know that.

We know that humans are at 98.6, and now I know cats are around 101.5. What are the typical body termperatures of:

- Dogs?
- Large cats (e.g. tigers, lions, panthers)?
- Horses?
- Cows?
- Mice?
- Elephants?
- Dolphins?

What mammals has the highest internal temperature and the lowest? Do smaller mammals generally run hotter than bigger?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018/2 "2004-10-01T13:59:38Z")

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The lowest temperature for active mammals belongs to Three-toed sloths, with a deep-body temperature as low as 28 C/82 F (or even 24 C/75 F according to one reference) or as high as 40 F/104 C. Sloths thermoregulate poorly, and their body temperature varies with the external temperature (usually within 10 C/18 F).

During hibernation the body temperature of the Arctic Ground Squirrel can drop up to 2 C below freezing without ill effects. (The body tissues don’t freeze because they are at a higher concentration than fresh water and their freezing temperature is thus lower.)

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018/3 "2004-10-01T14:05:11Z")

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I should mention that monotremes (platypus and echidna) also have low and variable body temperatures, as do some marsupials.

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018/4 "2004-10-01T15:38:49Z")

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Dog: [99F - 102.5F](http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1999/JieYaoHuang.shtml)  
Lion: [100.5F - 102.5F](http://www.lionlmb.org/lion/lionfact.html)  
Horse: [99.8F - 101.3F](http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0995vitals.shtml)  
Cow: [~101.5F](http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1998/PeiJunChen.shtml)  
Elephant: [96.6f](http://212.187.155.84/pass_06june/Subdirectories_for_Search/Glossary&References_Contents/MiscellaneousContents/Mahouts_Guide/section1.htm)  
Dolphin: [35C - 36.9C](http://www.indianchild.com/dolphins.htm)

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-body-temperatures-of-various-mammals/267018/5 "2004-10-01T16:05:48Z")

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Mice have several temperature set points. Their prefered body temperature changes with the environment and the food supply.