Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 77 (2): 235-242, 2004
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Fur changes in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum: possible thermal
compensatory mechanism
In this work, the changes in fur density and length in the subterranean rodent
Ctenomys talarum were evaluated as a possible compensatory mechanism during seasonal temperature changes in their
burrow environment and during pregnancy in females, both situations being thermoregulatory challenging in this species. The ventral
fur was shorter and less dense than the dorsal fur in the three groups (males, non-pregnant females and pregnant females) and in the
two seasons evaluated. Ventral and dorsal furs were significantly shorter during the warm seasons in the three groups. In the warm
season, pregnant females had a ventral fur significantly shorter than that of males and non- pregnant females. The possible thermal
advantages that the observed fur changes might represent for the species are discussed, with emphasis on the constraints imposed
by the subterranean environment on available ways of dissipating body heat.
Key words:
fur, subterranean
environment, Ctenomys talarum, dissipation
