Gerbil Reproduction - Anatomy & Physiology

BACK TO REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM BACK TO SMALL DOMESTIC MAMMALS

• Male
• Female

Male

Penis

• Os penis lies within the tissue of the penis.

Testes

• Two testes in an external scrotum.
• Testes descend at 30-40 days.
• Active spermiogenesis and mating apparent from 10 weeks of age.
• Anogenital distance in the adult is ~10mm (twice that of the female).
• In the young animal, scrotum is obvious and dark in colour.

Reproductive Behaviour

• Abdominal sebacious gland is large and apparent at ~4 weeks.
  • Rubbed along the ground to mark territorial boundaries.
• Form monogamous pairs/Harems
  • Fighting among males is common

Mammary Gland

• Teats are absent.