Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) courtship and mating behavior

Abstract

BackgroundPampas deer, Ozotoceros bezoarticus (Linnaeus 1758), is a South American grazing deer categorized as "near threatened". However, knowledge about pampas deer behavior including courtship and mating is scarce and incomplete. The aim of this study was to characterize the courtship and mating behavior of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), an endangered species from South America.MethodsWe performed focal observations of 5 males allocated at the Estación de Cría de Fauna Autóctona Cerro Pan de Azúcar, Uruguay, 4 times a day from 5 to 20 minutes each time on a daily basis from February to May. During that period we recorded all courtship and mating behaviors, as well as quantified the frequency of the specific behaviors shown. As mating were rarely observed, we recorded that behavior when it was observed in the context of other studies performed in the same population during the following 2 years.ResultsDuring the observation period we recorded 928 courtships and 5 mating periods. In addition, we recorded 10 more matings performed during other studies, totaling 15. The duration of each mating calculated from the 15 recordings was 3.9 ± 0.4 s, and the total period of female receptivity (from first to last mating acceptance) was 8.2 ± 1.1 min. Main observed courtship behaviors in males were “chase” and “ostentation”, while the most observed close to mating were “chinning”, “raised head” and “anogenital sniffing”. The most observed behaviors in females during the mating period were “vulva exhibition” and “move away”.ConclusionThis is the first detailed report in pampas deer mating behavior. Estrus lasted only 8 min accepting only 3 short copulations per estrus. However, female behavior during courtship can be characterized as highly proceptive.

Vocalizations During Electroejaculation in Anaesthetized Adult and Young Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) Males

“…), but after several trials, we have only recorded vocalizations for offspring calling by the dams (Olazabal et al. ), and in one occasion during courtship (Morales‐Piñeyrua and Ungerfeld ). Therefore, this reinforces the hypothesis that these vocalizations observed out from a social context are probably related to pain caused by EE.…”

Asymmetrical size and functionality of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) testes: Right testis is bigger but left testis is more efficient in spermatogenesis

“…Testes are smaller in single‐male breeding systems, including monogamy and extreme polygyny in which a single male breeds with most females (Kenagy & Trombulak, ). In this sense, pampas deer females accept matings only for some minutes in each oestrous period (Morales‐Piñeyrúa & Ungerfeld, ), so exit of each male in offspring output is probably less affected by sperm competition. This may explain the relatively small testicular size compared to those of other ruminants in which there is more competition for accessing to oestrous females, or in which sperm competition strongly influences probabilities of letting progeny.…”

Weak premating isolation between two parapatric brocket deer species

“…The behavioural patterns used in this study were based on our own preliminary observations and those described in the literature (Tomkins and Bryant, 1974;Samsudewa and Capitan, 2011;Morales-Piñeyrua and Ungerfeld, 2012).…”