MATERNAL STRATEGIES OF PHASCOGALE-TAPOATAFA (MARSUPIALIA, DASYURIDAE).2. JUVENILE THERMOREGULATION AND MATERNAL ATTENDANCE

When juvenile Phascogale tapoatafa first release the maternal teats an d are left in the nursery nest (c. 48 days of age), they lack fur, wei ght about 4 g, and are poikilothermic. Thermoregulation of wild litter s was measured using a temperature-sensitive radio-transmitter inserte d into the huddled litter after the mother's departure at night. On co ld nights (less-than-or-equal-to 10-degrees-C), juveniles lose heat ra pidly in the absence of their mother, with litter temperatures declini ng to an average of 6-degrees-C in 4 h. Litter temperatures of 3-degre es-C were common. Maternal attendance (incubation) is frequent and of long duration during the early-nesting period, then decreases as juven iles acquire fur and develop endothermy. The mother contributes to lit ter thermoregulation and security by constructing a large nest of bark , feathers and fur in a tree cavity with a small entrance hole.