Ventilatory pattern and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia were investigated in torpid big brown bats at body temperatures of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 37 degrees C. The pattern of breathing at temperatures below 30 degrees C was intermittent, consisting of rhythmic breathing bouts separated by apneic periods with occasional sporadic, non-rhythmic breathing episodes. Overall ventilation (Ve) was matched consistently to overall oxygen consumption (MO2) over the entire range of temperatures with a mean air convection requirement (Ve/MO2) of 1.28 L/mmol. However, calculating the air convection requirement using only oxygen uptake acquired during ventilation yielded an ectotherm-like temperature relationship. Ventilation was stimulated at all temperatures by either increased inspired CO2 or decreased inspired O2. At 20 degrees C, graded hypercapnic stimulation increased the duration of the rhythmic bouts and decreased the duration of apneas until at high CO2 (greater than 3%) breathing was continuous. Hypoxic stimulation below about 7% O2 increased ventilation by selectively increasing the non-rhythmic ventilations and decreasing rhythmic bouts.