Energy Requirements and Sodium and Water Turnovers in Two Captive Marsupial Carnivores: the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus Harrisii, and the Native Cat, Dasyurus Viverrinus.

Abstract

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.