The maximum metabolizable energy intake (MEImax) of striped hamster Cricetulus barabensis (Pallas, 1773) was determined in gradually lowering temperature. The MEImax was gained at 0°C, 3.6 ± 0.1 kJ/(g x d) or 121.9 ± 4.9 kJ/d, which is 2.8 times the basal metabolic rate (BMR). This suggests that the actual energy budgets of striped hamsters in natural environment will keep near the upper physiological limit. As the temperature decreased, both metabolizable energy intake (MEI) and BMR increased though there was no significant correlation between the MEI and BMR or between the MEImax and BMR. However, the significant correlation between MEImax and BMR was found in nine species of rodents. Our results support the assimilation capacity model of the origin and evolution of endothermy at the interspecific level.
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