Seasonal reproduction in the mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus

Hoffmann, Joan C.; Soares, Michael J.; Nelson, Marita L.; Cullin, Anne-Marie

doi:10.1016/0016-6480(84)90116-3

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Earlier published studies cited above indicate that the small Indian mongoose breeds twice a year; females were found pregnant from August through February, with the last pregnant female found in February, unlikely on Grenada Island, where there was a 10-month breeding season (Nellis and Everard, 1983), with a gestation period of approximately 46-49 days. Similarly, Nellis (1989) reported a gestation period of 49 days, while Hoffmann et al (1984) found it to be 50 days, with most of the pregnant females observed in February-September and lactating females observed in March through October. In the current study, pregnant females were found from April until June, with a gestation period of approximately 50 days.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Seasonal hormones, female reproductive tract changes, and some field observations on breeding activities of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) from its native range of Potohar Plateau, Pakistan

Akrim¹,

Fatima²,

Nazir³

et al. 2017

Turk J Zool

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The small Indian mongoose acts as a biological control agent for rodents, snakes, and many insects in agroecosystems. Its reproductive physiology has been studied mostly from its introduced range. We investigated the reproductive pattern of the female small Indian mongoose on the Potohar Plateau, i.e. its native range. We found a male:female ratio of 0.67 (n = 52); only 16% of the live-trapped females were found to be pregnant. Elevated estradiol and progesterone levels were found during March to May. LH levels showed 2 peaks: the first during March (25.5 mIU/mL) and the second in September (29.8 mIU/mL); however, FSH levels were almost the same. Light microscopic sections (H & E stained) of the ovary showed mature Graafian follicles during February, corpora lutea (early gestation) during March, and maintenance of prominent corpora lutea inside the ovary during April (late gestation period); however, during June, no corpora lutea were observed in the ovary, indicating the lactational phase. Average litter size was 2.83 ± 0.14 (by visual observation), 3 ± 0.24 (by counts of placental scars), and 3.2 ± 0.37 (by counts of developing embryos). The study concludes that the small Indian mongoose breeds twice a year in its native range.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Seasonal hormones, female reproductive tract changes, and some field observations on breeding activities of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) from its native range of Potohar Plateau, Pakistan

Akrim¹,

Fatima²,

Nazir³

et al. 2017

Turk J Zool

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“…Together, these results suggest that the peak of the breeding period of the Egyptian mongoose in Portugal begins in February. This pattern coincides with the findings reported for this species in Spain (Palomares & Delibes, 1992) and in a closely related species, H. auropunctatus (Hoffmann et al ., 1984). Further, our results suggest that males do not have a well‐defined breeding season and that females are responsible for the timing of reproduction in this species, as occurs with the majority of mammalian species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the laboratory, thawed carcasses were sexed, weighed, measured [snout‐tail length (terminal hairs not included), right hind leg length, right hind foot length, shoulder height, neck perimeter and head width] and dissected (Bandeira et al ., 2016). Lactating females were identified according to the development of the mammary glands (milk present in mammary glands) and external nipples (Hoffmann et al ., 1984; Abe et al ., 2006). Spleens and reproductive organs were collected and weighed separately to the nearest 0.0001 g scale.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Testes were weighed together and measured in length and width with a caliper (Soares & Hoffmann, 1981; Soares & Hoffmann, 1982). Ovaries were dissected from the female reproductive tract, weighed together and measured (Hoffmann et al ., 1984; Parsons et al ., 2013). Only individuals with intact skulls and reproductive systems were included in the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association between reproduction and immunity in the Egyptian mongooseHerpestes ichneumonis sex‐biased and unaffected by body condition

et al. 2020

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The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) is a carnivore in expansion on the western limits of Europe, where its reproductive ecology is unknown. In this study, we weighed and measured the gonads of 507 wild‐caught mongooses ranging its geographical distribution and all seasons of the year. Based on the variation in gonad weight, we determined periods of reproductive activity for females (December–June) and males (throughout the year), with both sexes showing a peak in gonad weight during February. We also identified periods of lactation (March‐August, n = 10), gestation (December–July, n = 20) and mean litter size (1–4 offspring, 2.75 ± 0.79, n = 20). Next, we constructed two separate models to explain the variation in ovarian and testicular weight, using age cohort, season and region, spleen weight, body condition and the environmental variables habitat, river network and Egyptian mongoose density as predictors. Ovarian weight was influenced by season and spleen weight. Females with heavier ovaries were found in spring and simultaneously exhibited heavier spleens. Testicular weight was influenced by season, spleen weight and age, as well as several environmental variables. Males with lower spleen weight exhibited heavier testes, indicating a male‐specific negative association between reproductive and immune activity. Overall, the results of this study refine our knowledge on Egyptian mongoose reproductive ecology. They indicate that reproduction timing is determined by females, whose breeding is seasonal but who are unaffected by the set of environmental variables we tested, as opposed to males, who are influenced by these environmental conditions and seem to be reproductively active year round. These results also support a negative reproduction‐immunity trade‐off in males, that is independent of body condition and absent in females.

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“…The gestation period lasts for about 7 weeks (49 days) and litters of three young ones per female are produced (Pocock, 1941). A study on seasonal reproduction in Urva auropunctatus females in Hawaii; during gestation and lactation, no significant changes in body weight were observed (Hoffmann et al, 1984).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental chromium from the tannery industry induces altered reproductive endpoints in the wild female small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctatus)

2019

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The populations of wild animals are declining in many parts of the world in response to man-made alterations in the environment. Environmental contamination due to heavy metals discharge from industry may contribute to the decline of wild animal populations by impacting their reproduction, growth, and development. In the leather tanning industry, chromium (Cr) is used as a basic component, but it is a potent toxicant that can affect many of the physiological functions of animals. In the current study, we investigated the reproductive toxicity of industrial Cr in female small Indian mongooses inhabiting a tannery area. Adult female specimens were live trapped from February 2015 to January 2016. Blood and other body tissues (ovaries, kidneys and liver) of the captured specimens were collected along with soil and water samples from the environment for analysis. The Cr concentrations were found significantly (p < 0.0001) increased compared to control in the environment, blood, and all body tissues of the animals. Estradiol and progesterone levels were found to be significantly decreased in comparison with control (p < 0.0001), along with reduced ovarian weights, while follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone levels were found significantly (p < 0.0001) elevated. Light microscopy revealed significantly decreased in comparison with control ovarian follicle numbers (p < 0.0001) and diameters, vacuolization of the oocytes, and a significantly higher percentage of atretic follicles inside the ovary. We conclude that Cr discharged from the tanneries is absorbed by the exposed female small Indian mongoose, leading to ovarian dysfunction with potential impairment of reproductive function.

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Seasonal reproduction in the mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus

Cited by 8 publications

References 7 publications

Seasonal hormones, female reproductive tract changes, and some field observations on breeding activities of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) from its native range of Potohar Plateau, Pakistan

Seasonal hormones, female reproductive tract changes, and some field observations on breeding activities of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) from its native range of Potohar Plateau, Pakistan

Association between reproduction and immunity in the Egyptian mongooseHerpestes ichneumonis sex‐biased and unaffected by body condition

Environmental chromium from the tannery industry induces altered reproductive endpoints in the wild female small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctatus)

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