Energy Requirements and Sodium and Water Turnovers in Two Captive Marsupial Carnivores: the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus Harrisii, and the Native Cat, Dasyurus Viverrinus.
Keyword(s):
Captive Sarcophilus harrisii and Dasyurus viverrinus were fed on rats and provided with water ad libitum. Apparent dry matter digestibility was about 80% and apparent energy digestibility was about 88% in both species. The daily water turnover rate was approximately 130 ml per W*0.82 in both species, but S. harrisii obtained substantially more water by drinking than D. viverrinus. Sodium turnover rates were closely correlated with food consumption.