Pup retrieval in the African bush Karoo rat

Pillay, Neville; Willan, K.; Wolhuter, Wendy

doi:10.4098/at.arch.93-28

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The exception includes female O. angoniensis which have been reported to produce a litter of ®ve young (Phillips et al, 1997). However, the mean litter size of 3.4 recorded for P. brantsii in this study is well above the mean litter size for other otomyine rodents, which range from 1.44 to 2.75 (reviewed in Pillay et al, 1993), though Smithers (1971) recorded the average number of foetuses as 2.1 for P. brantsii in south-western Botswana. No data are available on the time other otomyine rodents reach independence in the wild, though O. s. robertsi do not even emerge above-ground for the ®rst time until they are c. 5 weeks old (Willan, 1990), suggesting large interspeci®c differences in pup ontogeny.…”

Section: Reproductive Parameterscontrasting

confidence: 46%

“…Before parturition, the large amount of dry material females carried underground seems to indicate preparation of the nest chamber before birth. After birth, other otomyine rodents are known to remain with their pups for extended periods, both to suckle them and provide warmth (Willan, 1990;Pillay et al, 1993;Phillips et al, 1997). Presumably the time female P. brantsii spent underground subsequent to parturition was to attend to their pups, as has been observed under captive conditions for other otomyine species (Willan, 1990;Pillay et al, 1993;Phillips et al, 1997).…”

Section: Female Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In Botswana, Smithers (1971) recorded an average of 2.1 foetuses (n = 9) with an observed range of one to three. Females sometimes forage while their young cling to the nipple (Kerley, 1997), a trait that is apparently common among newborn Otomyinae (Roberts, 1951;Willan, 1990;Pillay, Willan & Meester, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Female nesting behaviour, pup growth and ontogeny in Brants' whistling rat (Parotomys brantsii)

Jackson

2000

Journal of Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines aspects of the nesting behaviour of Brants' whistling rat Parotomys brantsii, a medium-sized rodent indigenous to southern Africa. In the semi-arid regions in which it occurs P. brantsii breeds opportunistically, modifying its breeding period in relation to rainfall. Within a winter rainfall area, females produced up to four litters of three to four young during the winter±spring period following a gestation period of c. 38 days, with females showing a post-partum oestrus. The behaviour of females was modi®ed by the birth of their pups, after which they spent extended periods underground, interspersed with bouts of food-collecting activity. With the emergence of pups above-ground, females increased their vigilant activity. At 5 weeks pups had developed all the important behavioural characteristics of adults, such as creating their own overnight food stores, collecting nesting material and defending a warren area against conspeci®cs. This was also the age at which the young dispersed from their natal nest area as well as the time at which females could reach sexual maturity, despite physical immaturity. The high reproductive output of female P. brantsii, as well as the rapid ontogeny of their young, compared to other otomyine rodent species, may represent an adaptation for maximizing reproductive potential in the semi-arid areas they inhabit.

show abstract

Section: Reproductive Parameterscontrasting

confidence: 46%

Section: Female Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 94%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Female nesting behaviour, pup growth and ontogeny in Brants' whistling rat (Parotomys brantsii)

Jackson

2000

Journal of Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the case of the surface-nesting O. angoniensis and O. irroratus, nipple-clinging is no doubt adaptive, especially if the incidence of predation in its poorly vegetated habitats is as high as assumed here (Davis 1972;Willan 1990;Pillay et al 1993).…”

Section: Postnatal Growth and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The incisors of O. angoniensis, O. irroratus and O. s. robertsi are erupted at birth, permitting the newborn to cling onto the mother's nipple (Willan 1990;Pillay et al 1993). Nipple-clinging appears to be a behavioural characteristic of all newborn Otomys (Roberts 1951;Pillay et al 1993), and is thought to have evolved to reduce the loss of young to predators in species which have less permanent nesting sites, as it Brought to you by | University of Queensland -UQ Library Authenticated Download Date | 6/23/15 7:15 PM allows the young to escape with the mother from the nest if disturbed (Brooks 1972 ;Davis 1972, Panagis andNel 1981).…”

Section: Postnatal Growth and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproduction and postnatal development in the Angoni vlei rat Otomys angoniensis (Rodentia, Muridae)

Phillips¹,

Kearney²,

Pillay³

et al. 1997

Mammalia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reproduction and the postnatal development of 48 litters (148 young) of the Angoni vlei rat Otomys angoniensis Wroughton, 1906 were studied in the laboratory. The gestation period was 37 days, mean litter size 3.1, mean mass of the newborn young 11.4g, and reproductive effort 1.07. Young were born semi-precocial, and both physical and behavioural postnatal development were rapid : locomotion was coordinated by day 5, the eyes were fully open by day 8, and young were weaned around day 16. Early postnatal development was characterised by nipple-clinging. The minimum age at sexual maturity was five weeks in females and eight weeks in males. Otomys angoniensis young are less precocial than those of the vlei rat O. irroratus, but more precocial than young of the ice rat O. sloggetti robertsi. In terms of most reproductive parameters, O. angoniensis appears less K-selected than either O. irroratus or O.s. robertsi Resume. -On a etudie la reproduction et le developpement de 48 portees (148 petits) d'O/omys angoniensis au laboratoire. La duree de la gestation etait de 37 jours, les portees etaient de 3,1 en moyenne, le poids moyen des petits etait de 11,4 g et l'effort de reproduction etait de 1.07. Les petits naissent semi-precoces. Le developpement postnatal physique et comportemental est rapide : la locomotion est coordonnee avant le 5 e jour, les yeux s'ouvrent avant le 8 e jour et le sevrage se fait vers le 16 e jour. Le developpement postnatal precoce est caracterise par 1'accrochement des petits aux mamelles de la mere. Les femelles atteignent la maturite sexuelle ä un minimum dc 5 semaines et les males ä un minimum de 8 semaines. Les petits de O. angoniensis sont moins precoces que les petits de O. irroratus, mais plus precoces que les petits de O. sloggetti robertsi. En ce qui concerne la plupart des parametres de reproduction, O. angoniensis parait etre moins caracterise par une strategic « K » que O. irroratus ou que O.s. robertsi.

show abstract

Reproduction and postnatal development in the bush Karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus (Muridae, Otomyinae)

Pillay

2001

Journal of Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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 semiprecocial. Weaning began as early as 8 days of age, and the age at ®rst 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 re¯ect 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.

show abstract

Pup retrieval in the African bush Karoo rat

Cited by 4 publications

References 7 publications

Female nesting behaviour, pup growth and ontogeny in Brants' whistling rat (Parotomys brantsii)

Female nesting behaviour, pup growth and ontogeny in Brants' whistling rat (Parotomys brantsii)

Reproduction and postnatal development in the Angoni vlei rat Otomys angoniensis (Rodentia, Muridae)

Reproduction and postnatal development in the bush Karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus (Muridae, Otomyinae)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About