Rectal temperatures before and after parturition in bottlenose dolphins
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1999 |
Authors: |
Fumio Terasawa, Yoshihiro Yokoyama, Masakazu Kitamura |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
Inc., John Wiley & Sons |
Keywords: |
husbandry, reproduction, tursiops truncatus gilli |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1999)18:2<153::AID-ZOO7>3.3.CO;2-6 In five parturitions of four bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gilli), rectal temperatures (Rts) were determined at least once a day during the late period of pregnancy. Four of the five pregnancies showed a drop in RT ranging from 0.7 to 1.3°C (an average decrease of 0.9°C) from 24 to 12 hr pre-partum. In these four cases, RT was significantly lower than their averages from 10 days to 1 day pre-partum (P < 0.05). In two dolphins, the first RT post-partum was higher than the average RT from 10 days to 1 day pre-partum. Seasonal changes in RT were observed in six non-pregnant dolphins. Average RT in June through August was significantly higher and in December through February was significantly lower than the rest of the year (P < 0.01). Zoo Biol 18:153–156, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.