Summary
-
1.
Rates of oxygen consumption were measured during locomotion in five species of marsupials of the family Dasyuridae. The body weights of the animals ranged between 0.15 and 1.12 kilograms.
-
2.
The rate of change of power input with speed was generally lower than equivalent eutherian values. The extrapolation to zero speed was consistently a higher multiple of resting metabolic levels than found in eutherians.
-
3.
The minimum cost of locomotion (M run) as a function of body mass (wt) is described by the equationM run=4.75 wt−0.34. The exponent is similar to that described for eutherians and reptiles, but the constant term is significantly lower.
-
4.
Metabolic scope in these animals is similar over the size range used and may be greater than in eutherians.
-
5.
Heat dissipation during locomotion has been partitioned into evaporative and non-evaporative routes. Storage of heat during locomotion was never more than fifty per cent of total production.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bakker, R.T.: Locomotor energetics of lizards and mammals compared. Physiologist15, 278 (1972)
Baudinette, R.V., Nagle, K.A., Scott, R.A.D.: Locomotory energetics in a marsupial and a rodent: a comparison. Experientia (Basel)32, 583–585 (1976)
Clemens, W.A.: Origin and early evolution of marsupials. Evolution22, 1–18 (1968)
Dagg, A.I.: Gaits in mammals. Mammal Rev.3, 135–154 (1973)
Dawson, T.J., Taylor, C.R.: Energetic cost of locomotion in kangaroos. Nature (Lond.)246, 313–314 (1973)
Edmeades, R.J., Baudinette, R.V.: Energetics of locomotion in a Monotreme, the Echidna,Tachyglosdud aculeatus. Experientia (Basel)31, 935 (1975)
Fedak, M.A., Pinshow, B., Schmidt-Nielsen, K.: Energy cost of bipedal running. Amer. J. Physiol.227, 1038–1044 (1974)
Gray, J.: Animal Locomotion. London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson 1968
Kleiber, M.: Body size and metabolism. Hilgardia6, 315–353 (1932)
MacMillen, R.E., Nelson, J.E.: Bioenergetics and body size in dasyurid marsupials. Amer. J. Physiol.217, 1246–1251 (1969)
Raab, J.L., Schmidt-Nielsen, K.: Effect of running on water balance of the kangaroo rat. Amer. J. Physiol.222, 1230–1235 (1972)
Schmidt-Nielsen, K.: Locomotion: Energy cost of swimming, flying and running. Science177, 222–228 (1972)
Taylor, C.R., Schmidt-Nielsen, K., Raab, J.L.: Scaling of energetic cost of running to body size in mammals. Amer. J. Physiol.219, 1104–1107 (1970)
Taylor, C.R., Rowntree, V.J.: Temperature regulation and heat balance in running cheetahs: a strategy for sprinters. Amer. J. Physiol.224, 848–851 (1973)
Tucker, V.A.: Energetic cost of locomotion in animals. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.34, 841–846 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baudinette, R.V., Nagle, K.A. & Scott, R.A.D. Locomotory energetics in dasyurid marsupials. J Comp Physiol B 109, 159–168 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00689415
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00689415