Niviventer confucianus is a common species of rodent in South China. We designed an experimental protocol to determine the influence of temperature on energy requirement and food assimilation of the N. confucianus . In our feeding trials, four experimental temperatures were applied: 17℃,22℃,27℃ and 32℃. The energy requirements of N. confucianus under different temperature were:107 43±6 44 KJ/animal/day (17℃),94 76±4 46 KJ/animal/day (22℃),73 96±5 65 KJ/animal/day(27℃),and 62 80±5 15 KJ/animal/day(32℃),respectively. Moreover, the energy intake, digested and assimilated energy of N. confucianus decreased with temperature increase. However, no significant differences on digestibility and assimilation rate of N. confucianus were found among four experimental temperatures. It indicated that, during a range of particular temperatures, N. confucianus might maintain relatively high digestibility by change of digest tract morphology.
