Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Which animal's TNZ is the widest among the ones listed?

1. Mice

2. Rats

3. Gerbils

4. Rabbits

The correct answer is: Mice

The thermal neutral zone (TNZ) refers to the ambient temperature range in which an animal can maintain its body temperature without the need for metabolic energy expenditure for either heating or cooling. Among the animals listed, mice typically exhibit a wider TNZ. Mice are known for their ability to adapt to a variety of environmental temperatures due to their smaller body size and higher metabolic rate. This allows them to maintain their core temperature more effectively within a broader range of ambient temperatures compared to the other animals listed. In contrast, while rats, gerbils, and rabbits also have their own TNZs, they tend to be narrower and require more specific environmental conditions to maintain thermal homeostasis. Rabbits, for example, have fur that provides insulation but can become less effective in extreme heat, thereby constraining their effective TNZ. Gerbils, being desert animals, are adapted to hotter and drier conditions which impacts their thermal regulation in cooler environments. Overall, the mouse's physiology and adaptive mechanisms contribute to its wider TNZ, setting it apart as the animal with the most extensive range for maintaining thermal comfort without additional energy costs.