Aplicación de la termografía para el estudio de los koalas

Abstract

There has been a study of thermography in koalas to establish the anatomic point of reference of the general temperature of this species, the normal thermal patters depend on environment temperature and the different changes during the females heat period, the gestation and the development period of the joey at the marsupium. Also an inflammation of superficial nodes and a chronic lameness were studied. The results indicate that the eye is a good reference point of the general temperature due to its stability and easy measurement. It has also been observed an increase of temperature in the aromatic glandule in the males during the heat period, and in the pectoral and abdominal zone in the female, that diminished until the trace. Later the temperature was stabilized, and during the development of the joey in the marsupium, the temperature increased until it being the warmest area of the body. The increase of temperature in the superficial nodes and the inflamed areas allows us it`s detection and valuation, as well as the cooling produced by muscle atrophy.