Thyroid activity in a hypometabolic primate, the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus)

Serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) were significantly lower in owl monkeys than in long-tailed macaques. These observations were considered to be consistent with the lower metabolic rate of the owl monkey. However, the absence of a significant difference in the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) between the two species suggested a lower thyroid sensitivity to TSH in the owl monkeys. There was an inverse relation between levels of T3 and TSH in the owl monkeys at night and during the day.