Body temperature and heat exchange in the Hawaiian spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris.

Abstract 1. 1. Deep body temperature, regional skin temperature and heat flow, and oxygen uptake were measured. 2. 2. In a free-swimming dolphin deep-body temperature ranged from 36.1–37.9° C (means 37.4, S.E. ± 0.03). 3. 3. There was considerable regional variability in the heat flow from the skin, being greatest from the distal parts of the extremities. 4. 4. Oxygen uptake was 1.5 times that of terrestrial mammals of comparable size. 5. 5. We conclude that these small tropical cetaceans live close to their lower critical temperatures, and depend upon the energy produced by activity, from solar radiation, and marked control over the peripheral insulation to maintain thermal balance.

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