Daily and circadian rhythms of rest and activity of Talpa romana Thomas (Mammalia, Insectivora: Talpidae). Preliminary results

Daily and circadian rhythms of rest and activity were investigated on six adult moles (Talpa romana). Preliminary results from a seven months study are presented. Animals were housed in separate cages and their activity monitored by means of automatic recording. Two sessions of automatic recording were run in different captive conditions and photoperiod regimes (natural light/dark conditions and constant dark). As a general rule, all activities showed a link with photoperiod under LD conditions. All animals displayed a clear diurnality in spite of strong interindividual differences in their activity pattern. In constant dark, two moles out of three showed a marked loss of organization in their activity pattern and absence of a clear circadian rhythmicity. Despite the absence of exposition to the natural LD cycle in subterranean environment, preliminary results suggest that light is likely to maintain a role in the regulation of activity patterns also in this fossorial species.