Metabolic and ventilatory physiology of the Barrow Island golden bandicoot ( Isoodon auratus barrowensis) and the northern brown bandicoot ( Isoodon macrourus)

Abstract

Metabolic and ventilatory parameters were measured for the smallest and largest Isoodon bandicoots; the arid-adapted Barrow Island golden bandicoot ( Isoodon auratus barrowensis) and the tropical northern brown bandicoot ( Isoodon macrourus). I. a. barrowensis has a number of physiological characteristics that aid its tolerance of high T a and survival in a hot and dry climate, including a low and labile body temperature, a very low basal metabolic rate, low total evaporative water loss, and an effective panting mechanism. I. macrourus generally has an “average” physiology for a bandicoot despite its size, although a number of its physiological characteristics aid survival in (sub)tropical conditions. These include a low body temperature, low total evaporative water loss and minute ventilation at high ambient temperatures, and an average thermal conductance. These data support the theory that phylogeny is a more important predictor of bandicoot physiology than habitat/distribution.