Breathing frequency in ruminants: a comparative analysis with non-ruminant mammals
In cattle, sheep and goats, during resting conditions, breathing frequency (f) greatly exceeds the value expected for their body weight (W, kg) from the allometric curve of other land mammals. It was postulated that this was the effect of the production of CO2 during rumen fermentation. If this were the case, a high f should […]
Some notes on the physiological and behavioral ontogeny of okapi (Okapia Johnstoni) calves
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110609.abs Four okapi calves were monitored from birth for specific behavioral and physiological developmental phenomena. Substantial changes are appropriate in defining normal ranges and averages of some behavioral landmarks previously reported in the literature (i.e., birth weight, first time standing, first attempt to nurse, first successful nurse, and first defecation). Simple, minimally invasive habituation […]
Enamel hypoplasia provides insights into early systemic stress in wild and captive giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Enamel hypoplasia, a developmental tooth defect, provides a permanent record of systemic stress during early life. The incidence and distribution of linear enamel hypoplasia has been used by anthropologists and palaeontologists to assess the health status of past populations but has not been applied by wildlife biologists studying extant animals. This study investigates enamel hypoplasia […]