Reproduction in female gundis(Rodentia: Ctenodactylidae)

Five species of the Ctenodactylidae have been studied both in the wild and in captivity. Ctenodactylids have vaginal closure membranes, lateral nipples, relatively long oestrous cycles and relatively long gestation periods for small rodents. In these features they resemble the caviomorph rodents of the New World and some of the hystricomorphs of the Old World. Many of the reproductive features such as well‐developed young, small litter size, the position of the nipples and the generally low reproductive rate may equally well be attributed to adaptation to a desert rock habitat.