Abstract

Herein we describe the hematological parameters of the subterranean endemic Chilean rodent Spalacopus cyanus (Rodentia, Octodontidae). Our results show that it presents a distinctive hematological condition as it does not show the high values of hemoglobin per erythrocyt (HCM) found in other mainly subterranean rodents where the reported HCM values represent 49.9 and 47.2% for Ctenomys talarum and Ctenomys australis respectively. Nevertheless, S. cyanus presents some hematological characteristics that increase the oxygen transport capacity in blood as a large amount of red blood cells of small size. Even though our results help to understand the attributes that explain the use of the subterranean ecotope by this species other studies such as the atmospheric conditions in the galleries, the effects of the soil type on the latter the O-2-affinity of the hemoglobin (2.3-DPG-effect) or the levels of gene expression of EPO and HIF-1 alpha under normoxia and hypoxia are still required.