Seasonal changes in heat transfer in the small mammal Calomys musculinus (Rodentia, Muridae). The role of the skin

Abstract

1. Cooling coefficients of cylinders covered with Calomys musculinus skins were significantly different between seasons (F5,75 = 12.36, p<0.001). Winter and spring skins had significantly lower cooling coefficients than summer and fall skins. Cooling coefficients of naked skins were not different between seasons 2. Cooling coefficients were significantly different between hair treatments (F2,75 = 673.98, p <0.001). Fluffed hair skins had lower cooling coefficients than skins with hair laying naturally and naked skins. 3. Body masses of animals were significantly different between seasons (F5,27 = 5.39, P<0.001).