Establishing and Maintaining an Etruscan Shrew Colony

The Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) is one of the smallest mammals on earth and is used in many fields of research, including physiology, behavioral science and neuroscience. However, establishing and maintaining a breeding colony of thisspecies in the laboratory can be challenging, as it requires specific husbandry conditions that greatly differ from those ofmore common laboratory species such as mice or rats. Over the past 15 y, we have successfully established a long-term thrivingcolony of 150 to 200 animals originating from 36 founders. The colony shows longer life expectancy and larger litter sizesthan wild conspecifics. Breeding occurs year-round, independent of seasons, and a breeding pair can regularly produce 2 to 6offspring with an average life expectancy of more than 3 y. The shrews are housed in glass or plastic enclosures on a specificsoil-sand-mixture bedding and are provided with hideouts and nesting material consisting of moss, wood, or bark. Due to their high basal metabolic rate, the shrews require food intake greater than their body weight per day, can hunt arthropodsas large as themselves, and cannot survive more than a few hours without food. Live feed such as crickets or mealworms is crucial and must be provided daily or, at the very least, every 2 d. Although our husbandry practices have constantly been adapted and refined, shrew husbandry remains challenging, and great care is necessary to meet the specific needs of this species. Here, we describe the establishment of a long-term stable colony of Etruscan shrews in a research animal facility and the specific husbandry requirements for animal wellbeing.

Thermoregulatory, metabolic and ventilatory physiology of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)

Thermoregulatory, metabolic and ventilatory parameters measured for the Tasmanian eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) in thermoneutrality (ambient temperature = 30°C) were: body temperature 35.1°C, basal metabolic rate 0.55 mL O2 g–1 h–1, wet thermal conductance 2.2 mL O2 g–1 h–1 °C–1, dry thermal conductance 1.4 J g–1 h–1 °C–1, ventilatory frequency 24.8 breaths min–1, tidal volume 9.9 mL, minute volume of 246 mL min–1, and oxygen extraction efficiency 22.2%. These physiological characteristics are consistent with a cool/wet distribution, e.g. high basal metabolic rate (3.33 mL O2 g–0.75 h–1) for thermogenesis, low thermal conductance (0.92 J g–1 h–1 °C–1 at 10°C) for heat retention and intolerance of high ambient temperatures (≥35°C) with panting, hyperthermia and high total evaporative water loss (16.9 mg H2O g–1 h–1).

Thermoregulatory, metabolic and ventilatory physiology of the western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville bougainville) in summer and winter

The metabolic, thermoregulatory and ventilatory physiology of western barred bandicoots (Perameles bougainville bougainville), measured in the laboratory during summer and winter at ambient temperatures of 10 and 30°C, is relatively unusual for a peramelid marsupial. It has a low thermoneutral body temperature (33.7 ± 0.2°C), a very high basal metabolic rate (0.68 ± 0.03 mL O2 g–1 h–1 at ambient temperature = 30°C), low respiratory exchange ratios (often less than 0.7) and a high thermal conductance, reflecting its high oxygen consumption rate and low body temperature. Ventilatory frequency and tidal volume were variable between seasons, although minute volume and oxygen extraction efficiency were not. Minute volume of the western barred bandicoot was higher than expected, reflecting its high metabolic rate. Time of year (i.e. season) had an effect on some aspects of metabolic, thermoregulatory and ventilatory physiology (carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio, total evaporative water loss), but this effect was not as substantial nor as general as the effect of ambient temperature.

The standard energetics of mammalian carnivores: Felidae and Hyaenidae

Data concerning the energy expenditure of nine species in the family Felidae and one species in the family Hyaenidae are presented, all of which were obtained under standard conditions. An examination of basal rates of metabolism in these felids and in two species reported in the literature indicates that basal rate is primarily correlated with body mass; of these species, nine have a high basal metabolic rate by general mammalian standards, the two exceptions being the margay and jaguarundi. The low basal metabolic rate of the margay may be related to its arboreal habit in association with small muscle mass, but the reason for the low rate in the jaguarundi is unknown. The omnivorous striped hyaena and termitivorous aardwolf have typical mammalian basal rates. Felids that weigh less than 7 kg have slightly low minimal thermal conductances relative to mammals generally; larger species have high conductances. Felids have slightly high body temperatures.