Abstract
As one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat. Little is known about long-term patterns of body temperature and activity (including hunting) in cheetahs because long-term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs, or, indeed, for any free-living felid. We report here body temperature and locomotor activity measured with implanted data loggers over 7 months in 5 free-living cheetahs in Namibia. Air temperature ranged from a maximum of 39 degrees C in summer to -2 degrees C in winter. Cheetahs had higher (similar to 0.4 degrees C) maximum 24-h body temperatures, later acrophase (similar to 1 h), with larger fluctuations in the range of the 24-h body temperature rhythm (approximately 0.4 degrees C) during a hot-dry period than during a cool-dry period, but maintained homeothermy irrespective of the climatic conditions. As ambient temperatures increased, the cheetahs shifted from a diurnal to a crepuscular activity pattern, with reduced activity between 900 and 1500 hours and increased nocturnal activity. The timing of hunts followed the general pattern of activity; the cheetahs hunted when they were on the move. Cheetahs hunted if an opportunity presented itself; on occasion they hunted in the midday heat or in total darkness (new moon). Biologging revealed insights into cheetah biology that are not accessible by traditional observer-based techniques.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 30-47 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Integrative Zoology |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2019 |