Water economy of two desert canids, coyote (Canis latrans) and kit fox (Vulpes macrotris)
Golightly RT and Ohmart RD. 1984. Water economy of two desert canids, coyote (Canis latrans) and kit fox (Vulpes macrotris). Journal of Mammalogy. 65(1):51-58
Water loss rates (W1) were determined by tritium dilution for free-ranging kit foxes (V. macrotis), or unrestreained desert coyotes (C. latrans) and for kit foxes in a naturally landscaped outdoor enclosure. Coyote W1 was much greater in summer than in winter. Seasonal variation of W1 was not statistically apparent in kit foxes. The weight specific water loss of kit foxes was intermediate between summer and winter rates in coyotes. Kit fox W1 was 65% of that predicted on the basis of body weight; W1 for summer coyotes was 155% of predicted. Metabolic water was estimated to contribute 18% of total daily water requirements for kit foxes and approximately 10% for coyotes in summer. For both coyotes and kit foxes, the acquisition of preformed water was calculated to require substantially more prey than was required to meet energy demands.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Golightly, R.; Ohmart, R.
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Ecology, Hydrology, Plant Studies, Water Management