Gerbil Reproduction - Anatomy & Physiology
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
BACK TO REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
BACK TO SMALL DOMESTIC MAMMALS
Male
Female
- Bicornuate uterus
- Two channels of the cervix separated almost to the single entrance into the vagina.
- Polyoestrous
- Post-parturient oestrus
- Sexual maturity is at ~9-12 weeks.
- Monogamous (in contrast to rats and mice).
- Mating usually occurs in the evening.
- Copulation plug is small and lies deep in the vagina, so cannot easily be detected.
- Gestation period is 22-26 days.
- Mean litter size is 4-5.
- May produce a litter every 30-40 days and can produce a total of 10 litters.
- Maximum breeding age is 20 months, but usually the time between the first and last litter is ~1 year.
- Pseudopregnancy may occur.
- Altricial offspring.
- Hairless, blind and virtually helpless.
- Ears open at 5 days.
- Eyes open at 16-17 days.
- Cannibalisation/abandoment is rare.
- 4 pairs of teats.