Desiccation in the black dragon,Hagenius brevistylus Selys

• DOI: 10.1007/bf01968224
• Publication Date: 2005-08-02T08:49:36Z
• Authors: Barbara Jean Tracy; C. R. Tracy; D. S. Dobkin
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 01 natural sciences

Hagenius brevistylus lost mass by evaporation in a moderately desiccating environment at the rate of 20.4 mg h−1, and died of desiccation in less than 1 day at a body mass of 79.8% of their normally hydrated mass. It was estimated thatHagenius minimally would have to consume the equivalent of 60% of its body mass each day to meet its daily water requirements. This amount of food is equivalent to that necessary to power flight of a dragonfly for 4.6h.