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Reproduction of the Indian wild dog ( Cuon alpinus ) in captivity
Author(s) -
Paulraj S.,
Sundararajan N.,
Manimozhi A.,
Walker Sally
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1430110403
Subject(s) - biology , captivity , mating , courtship , zoology , reproduction , captive breeding , licking , estrous cycle , ecology , endangered species , habitat , pharmacology
The reproductive behavior and development of 3 wild‐caught and 2 captive‐born dholes ( Cuon alpinus ) was observed at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park during 4 successive mating seasons. Courtship was characterized by frequent urine marking and vocalizing by both sexes, by olfactory inspection of marked spots and of partners' genitalia, and by the female's licking and mounting of the male. Dholes exhibited the copulatory tie and back‐to‐back copulatory posture that is typical of other canids. Estrus may be longer, and the frequency of copulation higher, than is seen in other canids, however. The 4 litters born to the wild‐caught pair yielded information on growth and development. A captive‐born pair first began to show signs of sexual activity at 11 months of age. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss Inc.