title: Hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration in four chromosomal species and some isolated populations of actively speciating subterranean mole rats in Israel.
abstract: Hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were measured in four chromosomal species and some peripherally semi-isolated and isolated populations of the mole rat superspecies Spalax ehrenbergi in Israel. HCT was 52.0, 51.4, 50.9, and 47.8%, and Hb was 16.0, 16.6, 16.3, and 14.7 g/100 ml for 2n = 52, 58, 54, and 60, respectively. The species 2n = 60, which lives in arid habitats, had lower HCT and Hb than the other three species. HCT decreased as aridity increased between the species and within the species 2n = 60. Changes in HCT probably reflect clinal changes in both soil permeability to gases and ambient temperature.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003889:Desert Climate; D004463:Ecology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D007557:Israel; D007621:Karyotyping; D012377:Rodentia / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins