Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)

The little red kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae) is a small, insectivorous–carnivorous dasyurid marsupial found in arid spinifex grasslands of northwestern Australia. Kalutas resemble other dasyurids in many aspects of their physiology. Body temperature (Tb; 33.5°C; 1.5°C lower than predicted), wet the...

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Main Authors: Withers, Philip, Cooper, Christine
Format: Journal Article
Published: Allen Press 2009
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28754
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author Withers, Philip
Cooper, Christine
author_facet Withers, Philip
Cooper, Christine
author_sort Withers, Philip
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The little red kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae) is a small, insectivorous–carnivorous dasyurid marsupial found in arid spinifex grasslands of northwestern Australia. Kalutas resemble other dasyurids in many aspects of their physiology. Body temperature (Tb; 33.5°C; 1.5°C lower than predicted), wet thermal conductance (1.6 J g−1 h−1 °C−1; 91% of predicted), and dry thermal conductance (1.22 J g−1 h−1 °C−1; 55% of predicted) are not significantly different from allometric predictions for marsupials in the thermoneutral zone (26–33°C). A significantly lower-than-expected basal metabolic rate (0.55 ml O2 g−1 h−1; 58% of allometric prediction) and evaporative water loss (1.11 mg g−1 h−1; 39% of predicted) can be attributed to the combined effect of low Tb and phylogeny. Physiological adaptation to aridity is further reflected by a substantially smaller body mass (35 g) than predicted by phylogeny (200 g), a thermolabile Tb and use of torpor, which confer significant energy and water savings, and a high point of relative water economy (16.1°C).
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-287542020-06-22T05:11:35Z Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) Withers, Philip Cooper, Christine The little red kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae) is a small, insectivorous–carnivorous dasyurid marsupial found in arid spinifex grasslands of northwestern Australia. Kalutas resemble other dasyurids in many aspects of their physiology. Body temperature (Tb; 33.5°C; 1.5°C lower than predicted), wet thermal conductance (1.6 J g−1 h−1 °C−1; 91% of predicted), and dry thermal conductance (1.22 J g−1 h−1 °C−1; 55% of predicted) are not significantly different from allometric predictions for marsupials in the thermoneutral zone (26–33°C). A significantly lower-than-expected basal metabolic rate (0.55 ml O2 g−1 h−1; 58% of allometric prediction) and evaporative water loss (1.11 mg g−1 h−1; 39% of predicted) can be attributed to the combined effect of low Tb and phylogeny. Physiological adaptation to aridity is further reflected by a substantially smaller body mass (35 g) than predicted by phylogeny (200 g), a thermolabile Tb and use of torpor, which confer significant energy and water savings, and a high point of relative water economy (16.1°C). 2009 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28754 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-286R.1 Allen Press unknown
spellingShingle Withers, Philip
Cooper, Christine
Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)
title Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)
title_full Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)
title_fullStr Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)
title_full_unstemmed Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)
title_short Thermal, Metabolic and Hygric Physiology of the Little Red Kaluata, Daskaluta Rosamondae (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)
title_sort thermal, metabolic and hygric physiology of the little red kaluata, daskaluta rosamondae (dasyuromorphia: dasyuridae)
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28754