Metabolism and thermoregulation in two races of Djungarian hamsters: Phodopus sungorus sungorus and P. s. campbelli.

Two races of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus sungorus and P. s. campbelli) differ in their responses to low ambient temperatures. The lowest temperature tolerated is 6-10 degrees C higher in P. s. campbelli than in P. s. sungorus, both in summer and in winter, but the highest (Vo2-max) and lowest (BMR) metabolic rates are similar in both subspecies. Body temperature and overall conductance in the cold appear to be more variable in P. s. campbelli than in nominative sp.