Premium
Reproduction and postnatal development in the bush Karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus (Muridae, Otomyinae)
Author(s) -
Pillay N.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1017/s0952836901001017
Subject(s) - precocial , biology , litter , reproduction , altricial , weaning , muridae , zoology , ecology , reproductive biology , hatching , pregnancy , lactation , genetics
Reproduction and postnatal development of the southern African bush Karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus was studied in the laboratory. Fifty‐one litters were obtained from 17 pairs, with a mean litter size of 2.09, reproductive effort of 0.58 and gestation period of 37 days. Neonates weighed 6.1–9.6 g and were semi‐precocial. Weaning began as early as 8 days of age, and the age at first reproduction was 6 weeks in males and 5 weeks in females. Compared to its congeners, O. unisulcatus has small litters of semi‐precocial young which undergo rapid postnatal development, and contrary to expectations displays several K ‐selected reproductive characteristics. The reproductive biology and postnatal development of the bush Karoo appears to reflect a compromise between exploiting sporadically abundant resources and the occupation of stick lodges, which may provide a favourable microclimate to buffer the harsh external climate.