FIELD METABOLIC-RATE IN 2 SPECIES OF SHREW-TENREC, MICROGALE-DOBSONI AND M-TALAZACI

Doubly labelled water (DLW) was used to determine field metabolic rate (FMR) in the shrew-tenrecs Microgale dobsoni and M. talazaci. Measure s were obtained on six animals in their natural habitat and on five in dividuals in captivity. Mean FMR for nonreproducing M. dobsoni (mean b ody mass 42.6 +/- 1.7 g) was 77.1 +/- 3.2 kJ/d (CV = 53.7%, N = 4), 3. 8 times resting metabolic rate (RMR). Mean FMR for nonreproducing M. t alazaci (mean body mass 42.8 +/- 4.9 g) was 66.5 +/- 14.1 kJ/d (CV = 5 1.9%, N = 6), 3.2 times RMR. FMR within each species was not significa ntly correlated with body mass. This may in part reflect the large var iation among the individuals combined with the small sample size. FMR in shrew-tenrecs was within the range of FMR found in similar sized ro dents, although variation was greater in the tenrecs. The high variabi lity of FMR within the Tenrecidae may be a result of variations in bod y temperature. FMR/RMR ratios for both species fell within the range d etermined for other small mammals. The present study therefore offers further evidence to support a relationship between FMR and RMR.