Thermogenic characteristics and evaporative water loss in the tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri)

Abstract

Thermogenic characteristics and evaporative water loss were measured at different temperatures in Tupaia belangeri. The thermal neutral zone (TNZ) of T. belangeri was 30–35 °C. Mean body temperature was 39.76±0.27 °C and mean body mass was 100.86±9.09 g. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was 1.38±0.03 ml O 2/g h. Average minimum thermal conductance ( C m) was 0.13±0.01 ml O 2/g h °C. Evaporative water loss in T. belangeri increased when the temperature rose; the maximal evaporative water loss was 3.88±0.41 mg H 2O/g h at 37.5 °C. The results may reflect features of small mammals in the sub-tropical plateau region: T. belangeri had high basal metabolic rate and high total thermal conductance, compared with the predicted values based on their body mass whilst their body temperatures are relatively high; T. belangeri has high levels of evaporative water loss and poor water-retention capacity. Evaporative water loss plays an important role in temperature regulation.