Rectal temperatures before and after parturition in bottlenose dolphins

In five parturitions of four bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gilli) , rectal temperatures (RTs) were determined at least once a day during the late period of pregnancy. Four of the five pregnancies showed a drop in RT ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 degrees C (an average decrease of 0.9 degrees C) fr om 24 to 12 hr pre-partum. In these four cases, RT was significantly lower than their averages from 10 days to 1 day pre-partum (P < 0.05). In two dol phins, the first RT post-partum was higher than the average RT from 10 days to 1 day pre-partum. Seasonal changes in RT were observed in six non-pregn ant dolphins. Average RT in June through August was significantly higher an d in December through February was significantly lower than the rest of the year (P < 0.01). (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.