Digestive tract dimensions and body mass of elephant shrews (Macroscelididae) and the effects of season and habitat
- 1 January 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH in Mammalia
- Vol. 51 (4), 537-545
- https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1987.51.4.537
Abstract
Macroscelidids have relatively short digestive tracts, consistent with their insectivorous diet. Compared with five species of Elephantulus, Macroscelides proboscideus had a relatively long large intestine and Petrodromus tetradactylus had a relatively short large intestine. These differences may reflect varying requirements for water conservation. E. myurus showed no seasonal changes in body weight but a significant reduction in the length of the small and large intestine in winter, the nonbreeding season.Keywords
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