The rototranslational absorption spectrum of gaseous methane has been measured at seven different temperatures from 296 to 140 K. We have analyzed both the spectral moments and the experimental absorption shapes, assuming that only octupolar and hexadecapolar induction mechanisms contribute to the absorption. This assumption allows us to parameterize the temperature dependence of both the intensity and the shape of the absorption band. The results obtained indicate that other contributions to absorption are not negligible.