Facultative torpor in the South American rodent Calomys venustus (Rodentia, Cricetidae)

CAVIEDES VIDAL, ENRIQUE; CAVIEDES CODELIA, E.; ROIG, V.G.; DOÑA, R. D.

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS

Año: 1990 vol. 71 p. 72 - 75

0022-2372

Calomys venustus is a cricetid rodent inhabiting a wide array of habitats, including secondary-growth vegetation, transitional forest, and the semiarid thorn-scrub Chaco in Argentina. Wide seasonal climatic variations have been registered in these zones: difference between the absolute maximum and minimum records for ambient temperature is approximately 54ºC; water availability is greater in summer than in other seasons, with 90% of the annual rainfall occurring during summer; and food availability probably is restricted in winter. Because these are strong selective pressures, we became interested in the study of the bioenergetics and thermoregulation of Calomys venustus normally exposed to these environmental factors.