Metabolic and ventilatory physiology of the Barrow Island golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus barrowensis) and the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)

Abstract

Metabolic and ventilatory parameters were measured for the smallest and largest Isoodon bandicoots; the arid-adapted Barrow Island golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus barrowensis) and the tropical northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus). I. a. barrowensis has a number of physiological characteristics that aid its tolerance of high Ta and survival in a hot and dry climate, including a low and labile body temperature, a very low basal metabolic rate, low total evaporative water loss, and an effective panting mechanism. I. macrourus generally has an “average” physiology for a bandicoot despite its size, although a number of its physiological characteristics aid survival in (sub)tropical conditions. These include a low body temperature, low total evaporative water loss and minute ventilation at high ambient temperatures, and an average thermal conductance. These data support the theory that phylogeny is a more important predictor of bandicoot physiology than habitat/distribution.