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Science 20 July 1984:
Vol. 225. no. 4659, pp. 335 - 337
DOI: 10.1126/science.225.4659.335
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Articles

Energy Scaling in Marsupials and Eutherians

DAVID S. HINDS 1 and RICHARD E. MACMILLEN 2

1 Department of Biology, California State College, Bakersfield 93309
2 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 92717

Marsupials have been shown to have basal metabolic rates below those of eutherian mammals. Now metabolic rates below thermoneutrality are found to be equivalent in both taxa. Two models are proposed to explain the observed metabolic patterns: in one, marsupials differ only in having reduced basal metabolic rates; in the other, the reduced marsupial basal metabolic rates combined with a reduced body temperature and elevated conductance. The metabolic costs of existence below thermoneutrality appear to be similar for both taxa. The difference in basal metabolic rate may be of energetic significance or merely a phylogenetic coincidence.

Submitted on December 27, 1983
Accepted on April 16, 1984


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