Reproduction in the red-legged pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica Gould (Marsupialia : Macropodidae), and age estimation and development of pouch young

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Johnson ◽  
K Vernes

The reproduction of Thylogale stigmatica in captivity was studied and a predictive growth equation for age determination of the pouch young was developed. The general pattern of reproduction involved an oestrous cycle of 29-32 days, a gestation period of 28-30 days and a mean pouch life of 184 days. A post-partum oestrus and mating generally followed birth. Births were observed in all months in captivity, and from October to June in the wild. Mean age of weaning of young was 66 days following permanent pouch emergence, and the mean ages at maturity for females and males was 341 and 466 days, respectively.

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 635 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Johnson

Reproduction of the whiptail wallaby, Macropus parryi, was studied in captivity. The mean length of the oestrous cycle was 41.8 days while the mean length of the gestation period was 38.0 days. M. parryi bred throughout the year and post-partum oestrus was not recorded although mating did occur during the pouch life when the pouch-young was 118–168 days of age. The length of the pouch-life was 256–267 days and weaning occurred 104–215 days after emergence from the pouch. Sexual maturity for females occurred at 509–647 days of age. An age-determination table was produced and found useful for predicting age of pouch-young using body measurements.


1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
PM Johnson

Lagorchestes conspicillatus has a widespread distribution across northern Australia. Observations were made on reproduction in captive animals and a key produced for age determination of pouch young. Females commence breeding at about one year of age and males when slightly older. Reproduction in this species involved an oestrous cycle of 30 days, a gestation period of 29-31 days and a mean pouch life of 152 days. A postpartum oestrus and mating following a birth was the normal pattern of reproduction.


1995 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
R.T. Gemmell

The brushtail possum is a common arboreal marsupial that is well adapted to the Australian urban environment and to rearing in captivity. Data obtained from 100 female possums housed in a semi-captive colony over a 7 year period demonstrate the reproductive capability of this marsupial. The main breeding season is from March to June with a declining number of births occurring from July to October. The possums gave birth to 259 single young and one set of twins. The range of the lactation period was from 177 to 200 days with the birth of the subsequent young occurring at 188.4 ± 4.1 days post partum (SD, n = 5). The growth rate of the young female possum varied greatly after day 100 post partum, the mean body weight of possums at day 172, being 753.0 ± 76.2g (SD, n = 5) with a range of 685 to 851 g. Female possums, with a mean body weight of 2171 ± 388g, gave birth to their first litter on day 345.9 ± 69.3 days postpartum (mean, SD, n = 7). Although two female possums trapped in the wild were held in captivity for 64 and 63.4 months and one possum bred in captivity had a life span of 51.5 months, the mean life span was 21.0 ± 12.5 months (SD, n =3D 8), with a range of 14.3 to 51.5 months. This life span is very variable and it is of interest to determine if this is an artefact of captivity or is also observed in the wild.


2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Johnson ◽  
Steven Delean

Reproduction in Lumholtz's tree kangaroo, Dendrolagus lumholtzi, was studied in captivity. The length of the oestrous cycle was 47–64 days and the gestation period was 42–48 days. Post partum oestrus and embryonic diapause were not observed in this study. The interval between loss of a pouch young and a return mating was 22 days. Pouch life was 246–275 days long and weaning occurred 87–240 days later. Sexual maturity was obtained in females as early as 2.04 years and in males at 4.6 years. Linear mixed-effects models are used to describe polynomial growth equations for age determination of pouch young using both head and pes length. The relationship between error in age prediction and each body measurement is also defined. Head and pes measurements provide equally accurate estimates of the age of pouch young.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Johnson

'Reproduction in the plain rock-wallaby was studied in captivity. The oestrous cycle ranged from 30.2 to 32.0 days and the gestation period from 30.0 to 32.0 days. A post-partum mating usually followed birth; the resultant quiescent embryo developed and was born 28-30 days after premature removal of pouch young. The pouch life of the young ranged from 189 to 227 days, males and females maturing sexually at approximately 590 and 540 days respectively. Tail and hind foot lengths were found to be useful indicators of age of young up to the end of pouch life.


1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Johnson

The reproduction of the endangered macropod Onychogalea fraenata was studied in captivity. O. fraenata breeds throughout the year. A post-partum oestrus was not recorded, although mating during the pouch life was observed when the pouch young were 80–92 days old. The mean length of the oestrous cycle was determined to be 36·2 days, while the mean length of a gestation period was 23·6 days. Pouch life ranged between 119 and 126 days, and the young males and females matured as early as 270 days and 136 days, respectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig K. Thompson ◽  
Adrian F. Wayne ◽  
Stephanie S. Godfrey ◽  
R. C. Andrew Thompson

The brush-tailed bettong or woylie (Bettongia penicillata) is a continuous and rapid breeder. However, research investigating the monthly survival and development of young woylies from parturition to parental independence is incomplete. The reproductive biology of eight female woylies was observed for 22 consecutive months within a purpose-built enclosure. Adult female woylies bred continuously and were observed caring for a dependant young 96% of the time. Pouch life of the young was ~102 days, with sexual maturity of female offspring reached as early as 122 days post partum. Crown–rump measurement was an accurate predictor of age for young restricted to the pouch, while skeletal morphometrics were a better predictor of age for ejected pouch young, young-at-foot and subadults. A four-month period between May and August of each study year accounted for 85% of pouch young mortality and 61% of pouch young births where the neonate went on to survive to subadult age. Here we discuss the possibility that pouch young born during the cooler, wetter months of May to August may have an increased chance of survival in the wild, resulting from an increased maternal investment being directed towards the rearing of ‘fitter’ progeny.


1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Johnson ◽  
J. Steven C. Delean

Reproduction in the Proserpine rock-wallaby, Petrogale persephone, was studied in captivity. Sexual maturity, defined as age at first fertility, was attained at 20.5 months in females whereas males were not mature until 24.8 months. P. persephone is capable of breeding throughout the year. The length of the oestrous cycle was 33–38 days, while the period of gestation was 30–34 days. Birth was usually followed by an oestrus and mating, and a subsequent lactation-controlled embryonic diapause. The mean interval between loss of a pouch young and birth was 31.5 days. Pouch life was 203–215 days and young at foot were weaned 105–139 days after permanent emergence from the pouch. Linear mixed-effects models were used to describe polynomial growth equations for age determination of pouch young using both head and pes length. The relationship between error in age prediction and each body measurement was defined. Head measurements provided the most accurate estimates of the age of pouch young.


2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 3048-3058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano De Luca ◽  
Inmaculada Alemán ◽  
Francesca Bertoldi ◽  
Luigi Ferrante ◽  
Paola Mastrangelo ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Johnson ◽  
Steven Delean

Reproduction of the purple-necked rock-wallaby, Petrogale purpureicollis, was studied in captivity. The length of the oestrous cycle was 36–38 days followed by a gestation period of 33–35 days. Birth was usually followed by an oestrus and mating, and a subsequent lactation-controlled embryonic diapause. The interval between loss of pouch young and birth was 30–36 days. Pouch life was 178–197 days and weaning occurred 92–171 days after permanent emergence from the pouch. The youngest age at which sexual maturity was reached was 21.8 months for males and 18 months for females. Linear mixed-effects models were used to describe polynomial growth equations for age determination of pouch young using both head and pes length. The relationship between error in age prediction and each body measurement was also defined. Head measurements provided the most accurate estimates of the age of pouch young.


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