Reproduction of the caracalFelis caracalfrom the Cape Province of South Africa

Abstract

Reproduction of the caracal was studied using captive animals, field observations and gross and histological examination of male and female reproductive organs. Mating behaviour was similar to that previously reported for the felids and the mean gestation length was 79 days. The mean litter size was 2,2 for captive animals and wild killed pregnant females carried between one and three foetuses. Age at puberty for males and females was between seven and ten months, and first successful copulations occurred at between 12 and 14 months.Births occurred throughout the year with a pronounced peak in summer. Spermatogenesis was aseasonal with a reduction in reproductive activity in winter.Navorsing oor voortplanting in die rooikat is gedoen deur die gebruik van gevange diere, veldwaarnemings en groWwe en histologiese ondersoek van manlike en vroulike voortplantingsorgane. Paringsgedrag is tipies van die katfamilie, die gemiddelde dragtigheidsduur is 79 dae en die gemiddelde werpselgrootte vir beide gevange en wilde diere is 2,2. Die ouderdom van geslagsrypheid vir mannetjies en wyfies is tussen sewe en tien maande. Rooikatgeboortes het dwarsdeur die jaar plaasgevind met 'n skerp piek in die somer. Spermatogenese was nie seisoensgebonde nie en daar was 'n afname in voortplantingsaktiwiteit gedurende die winter.

Sustainable small stock farming and ecosystem conservation in southern Africa: a role for small mammals?

“…Where the differences observed between caracal diet and home range size between the WCNP study and that of other regions (see Pringle and Pringle 1979, Skinner 1979, Grobler 1981, Stuart 1982, Moolman 1984, Bernard and Stuart 1987, Palmer and Fairall 1988, Weibstein and Mendelsohn 1990, Stuart and Hickman 1991, Bothma and Le Riche 1994, Van Heezik and Seddan 1998, Melville and Bothma 2006a could be attributed to differences in variables, such as prey community structure, habitat and climate, no contradictions in social and territorial behavior were found. The WCNP study significantly added to our understanding of the role of caracal in the ecosystem, inter alia in keeping density of prey species low and ensuring healthy and productive prey populations and greater diversity of species.…”

Food Habits of the Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) in Korea

“…Litter size: (C) 2.2 (range 1-4; n=15); (W) wild pregnant females were also found to carry an average of 2.2 fetuses (range 1-3; n=22) (Bernard and Stuart 1987). The size of four litters in the West Coast NP also averaged 2.25 (range 1-3: Avenant 1993).…”

“…Age atjirst reproduction: (C) 12.5-15 months (males) and 14-16 months (females); gametogenesis can occur somewhat earlier (Bernard andStuart 1987, P. Andrews in Zitt. 1993).…”

Ecology and status of the Caracal,Caracal caracal,(Carnivora: Felidae), in the Abbasabad Naein Reserve, Iran

“…comm.). According to BERNARD & STUART (1987), the mean litter size was 2.2 for captive animals, and wild killed pregnant females carried between one and three foetuses in South Africa.…”