Fecal temperature of wild and captive Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) as a proxy for body temperature

Primate health status affects individual fitness and survival, yet is difficult to noninvasively investigate in the wild. Using a method tested on chimpanzees and humans, we estimated temperature of fecal samples of Bornean orangutans as a proxy for body temperature. Upon defecation, we recorded peak internal temperature of the samples. Estimated body temperature was influenced by height of defecation (r= -0.23, N= 95, P= 0.0004) and sample weight (r= 0.23, N= 75, P= 0.0475). These estimates were not affected by sex (F(2,92)= 0.431, P= 0.651) or weather (F(2,92)= 1.175, P= 0.313). Our method allowed for fast, consistent sampling, such that time from defecation to collection did not affect the results (r= -0.074, N= 95, P= 0.468), confirming reliable fecal temperatures can be collected from orangutans. We compare our results from the field to captive fecal samples, finding higher body temperatures in captivity. From our samples (N=95), orangutans appear to have a lower internal body temperature (33.44 ± 1.74 °C) on average than either chimpanzees or humans. Previous studies have demonstrated that orangutans have a lower metabolic rate than other great apes. Lower body temperature may serve as a metabolic adaptation of orangutans to survive extended periods of low food availability when energy must be conserved.Accepted manuscrip

Fish fauna of the Batetangnga River, West Sulawesi, Indonesia

Batetangnga River is one of the rivers in West Sulawesi and is well known as an ecotourism area. This preliminary study was performed to reveal fish fauna in the Batetangnga River, West Sulawesi. Ichthyofauna research was conducted in April and May 2021 at two stations in Batetangnga River, namely Rawa Bangun and Butute’neng. During the study period, a total of 14 species belonging to 9 families were identified. No endemic species were found in the study area. Native fish species such as Stiphodon semoni, Butis butis, Glossogobius sp., Glossogobius aereus, Stiphodon sp., Giuris sp, Atule sp. Ambassis miops, Ambassis interrupta, Microphis sp. were recorded. Four alien fishes species were documented i.e. Aplocheilus panchax, Poecilia reticulata, Anabas testudineus, and Oreochromis niloticus. Freshwater fish exploration and efforts to control alien fishes species in west Sulawesi are essential things to be done shortly