Titre
Body temperature and fur quality in swimming Water-Shrews, Neomy fodiens (Mammalia, Insectivora)
Type
article
Institution
UNIL/CHUV/Unisanté + institutions partenaires
Périodique
Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde
Auteur(s)
Vogel, P.
Auteure/Auteur
Liens vers les personnes
Liens vers les unités
ISSN
0044-3468
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
1990
Volume
55
Numéro
2
Première page
73
Dernière page/numéro d’article
80
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Body temperature of the European water-shrew Neomys fodiens was reinvestigated with intraperitoneally implanted radiotransmitters. Two animals, caged in outdoor conditions, were tested during February and March. Mean body temperature (Tb) during rest was 37.0°C, during activity 37.5°C. During stress of capture Tb increased to 38.4°C, and during a social confrontation mean Tb was 39.4°C.
During forced swimming Tb decreased at a rate of 1.1°C per minute in an animal with wet fur. However, when kept in adequate conditions, animals could maintain their body temperature at a level of about 37°C in most of the tested situations. In water of 2.6°C, mean Tb after 6 min of forced swimming or diving was 37.4°C, comparable to Tb terrestrial activity. In these animals the fur remained dry even on its surface. The pelt of these shrews has a hydrophobic property which seems to be unique compared to other semiaquatic mammals.
During forced swimming Tb decreased at a rate of 1.1°C per minute in an animal with wet fur. However, when kept in adequate conditions, animals could maintain their body temperature at a level of about 37°C in most of the tested situations. In water of 2.6°C, mean Tb after 6 min of forced swimming or diving was 37.4°C, comparable to Tb terrestrial activity. In these animals the fur remained dry even on its surface. The pelt of these shrews has a hydrophobic property which seems to be unique compared to other semiaquatic mammals.
PID Serval
serval:BIB_D447F707FF84
Date de création
2008-01-24T16:32:46.361Z
Date de création dans IRIS
2025-05-21T02:00:41Z