Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions
Abstract Developing a captive breeding system for the widely hunted Caribbean species of opossum Didelphis marsupialis insularis can greatly aide in the management and conservation of this species in the neo-tropics. Although this species possesses ideal traits for captive breeding in this region (t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Instituto Internacional de Ecologia
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842022000100198&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1818731591562690560 |
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| author | L. Tardieu G. W. Garcia |
| author_facet | L. Tardieu G. W. Garcia |
| author_sort | L. Tardieu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Developing a captive breeding system for the widely hunted Caribbean species of opossum Didelphis marsupialis insularis can greatly aide in the management and conservation of this species in the neo-tropics. Although this species possesses ideal traits for captive breeding in this region (tolerance to high heat and humidity, high reproductive rate, and resistance to disease), challenges due to its aggressive behaviour and limited information on its breeding behaviour have prevented a system from being developed for this species. The present study describes a breeding system, and the reproductive behaviour of this species under captive conditions. Six (1 male; 5 females) adult opossums were maintained and managed for breeding over a ten (10) month period. Pouch litter sizes averaged 5±2.5 with a range of 2 to 8. Gestation length was found to be 13.25±0.96 days and 4 litters (n=23) were successfully weaned at 11-13 weeks. It was found that the male D. m. insularis exhibits behaviours of interest that can serve as indicators for receptivity of the female, and overall, that this species can be successfully reared and bred under captive conditions in the neo-tropics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:20:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13976a33eebe4442bbd1169bd63a7922 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-4375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:20:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Instituto Internacional de Ecologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-13976a33eebe4442bbd1169bd63a79222022-12-21T21:28:55ZengInstituto Internacional de EcologiaBrazilian Journal of Biology1678-43752021-06-018210.1590/1519-6984.240724Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditionsL. Tardieuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7987-635XG. W. Garciahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3478-2162Abstract Developing a captive breeding system for the widely hunted Caribbean species of opossum Didelphis marsupialis insularis can greatly aide in the management and conservation of this species in the neo-tropics. Although this species possesses ideal traits for captive breeding in this region (tolerance to high heat and humidity, high reproductive rate, and resistance to disease), challenges due to its aggressive behaviour and limited information on its breeding behaviour have prevented a system from being developed for this species. The present study describes a breeding system, and the reproductive behaviour of this species under captive conditions. Six (1 male; 5 females) adult opossums were maintained and managed for breeding over a ten (10) month period. Pouch litter sizes averaged 5±2.5 with a range of 2 to 8. Gestation length was found to be 13.25±0.96 days and 4 litters (n=23) were successfully weaned at 11-13 weeks. It was found that the male D. m. insularis exhibits behaviours of interest that can serve as indicators for receptivity of the female, and overall, that this species can be successfully reared and bred under captive conditions in the neo-tropics.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842022000100198&tlng=enDidelphis marsupialis insulariscaptive breedingmarsupialopossumreproduction |
| spellingShingle | L. Tardieu G. W. Garcia Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions Brazilian Journal of Biology Didelphis marsupialis insularis captive breeding marsupial opossum reproduction |
| title | Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions |
| title_full | Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions |
| title_fullStr | Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions |
| title_short | Breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo-tropical opossum, Didelphis marsupialis insularis, Allen 1902 under captive conditions |
| title_sort | breeding and reproductive behaviour of the neo tropical opossum didelphis marsupialis insularis allen 1902 under captive conditions |
| topic | Didelphis marsupialis insularis captive breeding marsupial opossum reproduction |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842022000100198&tlng=en |
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