Reproduction

Facts

In areas where the number of males is less than the number of females, females not initially paired will go through cycles of estrus until mated with (Linsdale and Tevis, 1951). This leads to staggered pregnancy within the population during the breeding season. The dusky-footed woodrat typically has one litter per year (Vestal, 1938).  The litter size ranges from one to four, but is most commonly two or three with an average size of 2.6 (Vestal, 1938).  Gestation lasts 30-37 days with an average gestation of 33 days (Wood, 1935).  Most young are born from February to May (Vestal, 1938).  Young are precotial and are able to walk before they can open their eyes (Carraway and Verts, 1991).  Weaning of the young starts at three weeks (English, 1923).

Mating System

In the dusky-footed woodrat, there is no mate selection (Linsdale and Tevis, 1951). Males will pair with the most readily accessible female, the one whose house is closest to his (Linsdale and Tevis). The paring seems to last until the start of gestation (Linsdale and Tevis, 1951) at which point the male will leave to copulate with another female. Although this is suggestive of polygyny (Sakai and Noon, 1997), genetic analysis suggests that offspring of the same litter are fathered by multiple males (Matocq, 2004) and indicates that the mate system may be overlap promiscuity especially since their is little or no pair bond. Although there does not appear to be mate selection, individuals will not always mate if placed together, perhaps as result of incompatibility (Wood, 1935).

Mating Behavior

There is an increase in aggression during breeding season, espcially in male woodrats (Caldwell et al, 1984; Wood, 1935). Flesh wounds are often inflicted with the front paws on the back or legs (Wood, 1935). Although personalities differ greatly across the species, some of the more gentle individuals engage in courtship rituals of grooming and touching (Wood, 1935). After mating, males retreat to arboreal nests of inferior quality (English, 1923).

This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the spring semester 2008

Please direct questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this site to Carolyn Kiss or Dr. Verna Case