Abstract

Informations on the body surface area in dolphins are rare in literature (SLIJPER, 1958; KERMACK, 1948; PARRY, 1949; RIDGWAY, 1972). With the increasing interest in physiology of marine mammals this parameter is of value for e.g., studies on energy metabolism, temperature regulation and water balance.

For the purpose of our investigations on water balance we measured the body surface area in 4 harbour porpoises.