Body temperature of the armadillo C. villosus (Mammalia, Dasypodidae)

CASANAVE E.B.; AFFANNI, J.M.

Archives Internationales de Physiologie, Biochimie et Biophysique

Swets & Zeitlinger Pub.

Año: 1994 vol. 102 p. 243 - 246

0778-3124

Body temperature of the armadillo Chaetophractus villosus (n = 17) was studied during a period of 15 days. Deep rectal temperature (TB) was recorded at 9 am, 1 pm and 5 pm. Temperature in the laboratory was kept between 24.6 degrees C and 26.0 degrees C. We found two main different profiles of thermal behaviour in our animals, namely: a) one with high variation, mainly due to the daily cycle. b) the other with middle or low variation, with no predominance of the daily cycle. There were great TB differences between hours (P < 0.01). Morning temperatures were lower than the other ones. This is what could be expected in a non diurnal animal like C. villosus.