Diurnal, seasonal and sex variations in rectal temperature of African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse)

Abstract (1) Rectal temperature ( T r ) was measured in captive African giant rats ( Cricetomys gambianus , Waterhouse), live-trapped in the Savannah during the harmattan, hot-dry and rainy seasons with the aim of determining diurnal, seasonal and sex patterns. (2) Mean (±SEM) T r in the morning (37.16±0.04 °C) was lower ( P P >0.05) between afternoon and evening T r during the harmattan and rainy seasons, but the difference was significant ( P T r was higher ( P T r of bucks was lower than that of does ( P P >0.05). (3) Base-line T r values for the African giant rats are shown for the first time. Season, time of day and sex influence fluctuations in T r s of African giant rats, and should be considered during diagnostic and clinical evaluations.