Metabolic rate and body temperature of adult and juvenile hyrax (Procavia capensis).
Resting metabolic rates (RMR) below thermoneutrality in adult hyrax acclimated to 26, 15 and 10 degrees C remained unchanged, i.e. thermal conductance (K) remained constant. Conductance in juveniles decreased with acclimation to lower ambient temperatures (Ta). Body temperature (Tb) dropped by 3.8 degrees C in adults exposed to Ta of 30-5 degrees C. The decrease was constant. Body temperature fell by 1.5 degrees C in juveniles exposed to Ta of 30-20 degrees C but stabilized between 20 and 5 degrees C. The labile Tb, associated with behavioural strategies and lower than predicted RMR, can be seen as an energy-conserving mechanism of particular importance during winter conditions.
D000064:Acclimatization; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D007043:Hyraxes / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000254:growth & development*; D013696:Temperature