How does Spix's yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii Wagler, 1831) face the thermal challenges of the Brazilian tropical dry forest?

The aim of this work was to investigate the thermal biology of the Spix's yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii) from the hot and dry environment of the Brazilian Caatinga by infrared thermography and biophysical equations. We monitored the rectal temperature, as well as the non-evaporative (radiat...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of thermal biology 2020-02, Vol.88, p.102525-10, Article 102525
Hauptverfasser: Queiroz, João Paulo Araújo Fernandes de, Souza-Junior, João Batista Freire, Oliveira, Vanessa Raquel de Morais, Costa, Leonardo Lelis de Macedo, Oliveira, Moacir Franco de
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The aim of this work was to investigate the thermal biology of the Spix's yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii) from the hot and dry environment of the Brazilian Caatinga by infrared thermography and biophysical equations. We monitored the rectal temperature, as well as the non-evaporative (radiative and convective pathways) and evaporative heat exchanges of males and females. The mean rectal temperature of females and males was 37.58 ± 0.02 and 37.47 ± 0.02 °C, respectively. We identified thermal windows by infrared thermography. The surface temperatures and the long-wave radiation heat exchanges were higher in the periocular, preocular, pinnae and vibrissae regions, in that order. The surface temperature of the periocular and preocular regions correlated positively with rectal temperature. Convective heat exchange was insignificant for thermoregulation by G. spixii. Evaporative heat loss increased when the thermal environment inhibited the radiative pathway. Females showed higher evaporative thermolysis than males at times of greater thermal challenge, suggesting a lower tolerance to heat stress. Therefore, infrared thermography identified the thermal windows, which represented the first line of defense against overheating in G. spixii. The periocular and preocular surface temperatures could be used as predictors of the thermal state of G. spixii. •Infrared thermography was a useful tool for studying thermal biology.•Thermal windows are the first line of defense against overheating.•The pinnae and vibrissae regions act as thermal windows in Galea spixii.•The periocular and preocular surface temperatures are predictors of the thermal state of G. spixii.•Females had a higher evaporative heat loss than males at times of thermal challenge.
ISSN:0306-4565
1879-0992
DOI:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102525