%0 Journal Article
%T Ecological correlates of relative brain size in some South African rodents
%A R.T.F. Bernard
%A J. Nurton
%J African Zoology
%D 2012
%I 
%X ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Relative brain size (size of the brain once body size effects have been removed) has been calculated for 16 species of rodent from South Africa and is shown to vary with six species having a positive RBS (that is a brain larger than expected) and 10 a negative RBS. Arboreal species such as Paraxerus cepapi and Graphiurus murinus and omnivores (G. murinus) have relatively larger brains than do the fossorial root eaters such as Cryptomys hottentotus and terrestrial follivores (Otomys irroratus). It is suggested that the relatively large brains can be linked to the complex behavioural patterns necessary for locomotion in three dimensions and for utilization of a food resource such as insects that is randomly distributed in time and space. The three sciuromorph rodents (Xerus inauris, Paraxerus cepapi and Pedetes capensis) have very different life styles but all have a positive RBS and it is suggested that a relatively large brain may be a characteristic of the suborder. ************ AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Relatiewe breingrootte (grootte van die brein nadat die effek van liggaamsgrootte uitgeskakel is) is vir 16 spesies van knaagdiere van Suid-Afrika bereken. Ses spesies het 'n positiewe RBG (dit is 'n brein wat groter is as die verwagte waarde) getoon, en 10 spesies 'n negatiewe RBG. Arboriale spesies soos Paraxerus cepavi en Graphiurus murinus en omnivore (G. murinus) het relatief groter breine as die fossoriale wortelvreters soos Crypotomys hottentotus en landlewende blaarvreters (Otomys irroratus). Daar word voorgestel dat 'n relatiewe groot brein gekoppel kan word aan die komplekse gedragspatrone wat nodig is vir beweging in drie dimensies en vir benutting van 'n voedselbron soos insekte wat oneweredig in tyd en ruimte versprei is. Die drie sciuromorfe knaagdiere (Xerus inauris. Paraxerus cepapi en Pedetes capensis) se lewenswyses verskil aansienlik maar hulle het almal 'n positiewe RBG en daar word voorgestel dat 'n relatiewe groot brein 'n eienskap van die suborder kan wees.
%K brain size
%K South African rodents
%K Xerus inauris
%K Paraxerus cepapi
%K Pedetes capensis
%K Graphiurus murinus
%K sciuromorph rodents
%K Paraxerus cepapi
%U http://africanzoology.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/608