Reproductive biology of the Tasmanian Bettong (Bettongia gaimardi: Macropodidae)

Abstract

The reproductive biology of the Tasmanian Bettong (Bettongia gaimardi) conforms in many respects to that found in related kangaroos. Gestation and the oestrous cycle are of similar duration (21–22 days), and a postpartum oestrus may result in the formation of a blastocyst that remains quiescent (embryonic diapause) throughout most of pouch life. Oestrous cycles including a gestation are shorter (by 1·5 days) than those cycles without a pregnancy. This ‘maternal recognition of pregnancy’ is extended into pouch life as the furred young always vacates the pouch when a new young is born. Pouch life is relatively short (106 days) and, as the Bettong breeds throughout the year, several young may be reared/year. Both males and females become mature before one year.

Evidence from the oestrous cycle for male-induced ovulation in Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia)

“…After return to the male these females returned to oestrus and mated 7 days after return to the male (29 days after oestrus-like smears), 10 days after return to the male (20 days after oestrus-like smears) or 1 day after return to the male (15 days after oestrus-like smears), respectively. (Rose, 1987;Tyndale-Biscoe, 1968 However, the results presented here indicate that when B. penicillata females are isolated from males only a small proportion ovulate spontaneously. This was most clearly shown in the different time interval between removal of pouch young and oestrus when females had either been allowed to mate post partum or had been isolated from males post partum, the interval being approximately 18-5 days in the females mated post partum but on average 6-6 days in nine of ten females isolated from males post partum.…”

Establishment of a captive colony of Bettongia tropica (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) by cross‐fostering; and observations on reproduction

“…The length of pouch life is a little shorter in B. penicillata (99 days, Smith, 1992) than in B. gaimardi (106 days, Rose, 1987) and B. lesueur (115 days, Tyndale-Biscoe, 1968). B. tropica lies between B. penicillata and B. gaimardi in this respect.…”

The influence of landscape context on the distribution of flightless mammals in exurban developments

“…With the introduced O. cuniculus removed from the index, ECR was not significantly related to female body mass (r = −0.595, P = 0.122), Blackhall (1980); 2, Fisher, Owens, & Johnson (2001);3, Fletcher (1978);4, Godsell, 1982in Bryant (1988; 5, Heinsohn (1966);6, Heinsohn (1968);7, Hird (1996);8, How, Barnett, Bradley, Humphreys, & Martin (1984); 9, Hughes (1962); 10, Hughes, Thomson, & Owen (1965);11, Johnson (1980);12, Johnson (1987a);13, Jones et al (1994);14, Kitchener (1973); 15, Lee and Ward (1989); 16, Lobert (1990);17, McCartney (1978); 18, Moloney (1982); 19, Myers, Parer, & Richardson (1989); 20, Quin (1986); 21, Reimer (1992); 22, Rose (1987); 23, Rose and McCartney (1982); 24, Statham and Statham (1997); 25, Stoddart and Braithwaite (1979);26, Taylor (1993);27, Walker (1977). b Data from similar sized congenerics.…”