Influence of Temperature on Performance in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Guinea pigs were forced to swim to total exhaustion in water at various temperatures. Small animals (400 gm) showed peak performance at about 40°C, large ones (1000 gm) at about 35°C. Large animals swam longer at low temperatures but shorter at high temperatures than did small ones. At 35°C all guinea pigs swam for an average of about 150 minutes. In general this species shows much less capacity for swimming than do albino rats. The difference may be related to diet or to endocrine factors.