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Basking behaviour in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter

Basking behaviour in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter Basking is a behaviour frequently observed in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter that supposedly plays a significant role in rewarming from nocturnal hypothermia. This behaviour, together with changes in body temperature and changes in black bulb temperatures (Tbb) were investigated in the natural environment. In this study, rock hyraxes did not reduce their body temperature substantially overnight and thus basking was not used for rewarming but rather to maintain constant body temperatures under low ambient conditions. Frequency of basking changed throughout the day as Tbb increased and decreased. Different basking postures (hunched or flat), orientations to the sun and basking bout lengths were modified depending on Tbb experienced. There was no difference in body temperature between the two basking postures at any Tbb. It appears that rock hyraxes did not use basking behaviour as a way of warming up after night-time but used it during the day as a diurnal energy conserving mechanism. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png African Zoology Taylor & Francis

Basking behaviour in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter

Brown, Kelly J.; Downs, Colleen T.
African Zoology , Volume 42 (1): 10 – Apr 1, 2007
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Basking behaviour in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter

Abstract

Basking is a behaviour frequently observed in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter that supposedly plays a significant role in rewarming from nocturnal hypothermia. This behaviour, together with changes in body temperature and changes in black bulb temperatures (Tbb) were investigated in the natural environment. In this study, rock hyraxes did not reduce their body temperature substantially overnight and thus basking was not used for rewarming but rather to maintain constant body...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© Zoological Society of Southern Africa
ISSN
2224-073X
eISSN
1562-7020
DOI
10.1080/15627020.2007.11407379
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Basking is a behaviour frequently observed in the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) during winter that supposedly plays a significant role in rewarming from nocturnal hypothermia. This behaviour, together with changes in body temperature and changes in black bulb temperatures (Tbb) were investigated in the natural environment. In this study, rock hyraxes did not reduce their body temperature substantially overnight and thus basking was not used for rewarming but rather to maintain constant body temperatures under low ambient conditions. Frequency of basking changed throughout the day as Tbb increased and decreased. Different basking postures (hunched or flat), orientations to the sun and basking bout lengths were modified depending on Tbb experienced. There was no difference in body temperature between the two basking postures at any Tbb. It appears that rock hyraxes did not use basking behaviour as a way of warming up after night-time but used it during the day as a diurnal energy conserving mechanism.

Journal

African Zoology – Taylor & Francis

Published: Apr 1, 2007

Keywords: rock hyrax; basking; orientation; posture; black bulb temperature; body temperature; behaviour

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