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    Reexamining echidna physiology: The big picture for Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion

    246451 pub.pdf (846.6Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Barker, J.
    Cooper, Christine
    Withers, P.
    Nicol, S.
    Date
    2016
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Barker, J. and Cooper, C. and Withers, P. and Nicol, S. 2016. Reexamining echidna physiology: The big picture for Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 89 (3): pp. 169-181.
    Source Title
    Physiological and Biochemical Zoology
    DOI
    10.1086/686716
    ISSN
    1522-2152
    School
    Department of Environment and Agriculture
    Remarks

    © 2016 by The University of Chicago.

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/14175
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The early divergence of monotremes and therian mammals has resulted in considerable interest in the comparative physiology of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), the most common and widespread living monotreme. However, there are many and varied interpretations of its physiology, reflecting the many and varied studies, limitations and uncertainties of aspects of some previous studies, and potential differences between the various subspecies. Consequently, we thoroughly examine here the standardized physiology of the most widely distributed subspecies of short-beaked echidna (T. aculeatus acanthion) over a wide range of ambient temperatures to definitively assess its physiology in a comparative context. We conclude that the low and variable body temperature of the short-beaked echidna is physiologically “primitive,” but it also reflects adaptation to its myrmecophagous niche. Other aspects of its physiology are more typically mammalian. A low metabolic rate reflects its low body temperature, and ventilatory variables are matched to accommodate a modest gas exchange requirement. Thermal conductance is typical for a mammal of equivalent mass. In contrast to previous studies, we demonstrate that short-beaked echidnas can enhance evaporative water loss above thermoneutrality, like other mammals, with a similar capacity for evaporative heat loss. Cooling of their nasal blood sinus with nasalmucousmay contribute to this enhanced evaporative cooling. Their capacity to evaporatively cool explains how their distribution can include habitats where ambient temperature, even in shelters, exceeds their supposed critical thermal limit.

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