Kleptothermy

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, Kleptothermy has been mentioned in one podcast episode on Radiolab (Feb 2026). Defines 'heat theft' behavior across animals and humans (huddling/cuddling), used to introduce the broader theme of warmth-seeking and energy efficiency.

In biology, kleptothermy is any form of thermoregulation by which an animal shares in the metabolic thermogenesis of another animal. It may or may not be reciprocal, and occurs in both endotherms and ectotherms. One of its forms is huddling. However, kleptothermy can happen between different species that share the same habitat, and can also happen in pre-hatching life where embryos are able to detect thermal changes in the environment.