Water turnover in coturnix quail with individual observations on a burrowing owl, petz conure and vulturine fish eagle

Abstract

1. 1. The body-water half-life in coturnix quail was 2·1 days and the turnover was 0·2 ml water/g body wt. per day. There was no evidence of sexual dimorphism. Male coturnix drank about 24 ml water/day, and it was calculated that about 95 per cent of the water turnover can be provided by free drinking water. 2. 2. The half-life of body water was about 4 days in the burrowing owl, 7–8 days in the Petz conure and 6 days in the vulturine fish eagle. 3. 3. The turnover of body water appeared to be related to body size.