The precocial mouse, Acomys cahirinus

Brunjes, Peter C.

doi:10.3758/bf03327252

Cited by 42 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…Estimating height depends, among others, on the reaction to depth and the ability to correctly perceive depth. Jirds are an altricial species in which the offspring depend on parental care for several weeks after birth [ 46 ], whereas spiny mice are precocial and their offspring can become independent within a few days postnatally [ 47 ]. Previous studies have revealed differences in depth perception between precocial and altricial species [ 6 , 48 – 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On heights and plains: How rodents from different habitats cope with three-dimensional environments?

Hagbi

Eilam

2022

PLoS ONE

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Dwelling in a specific habitat requires adaptation to the habitat physical and biological properties in order to maximize fitness. Adaptations that are manifested in the organization of behavior in time and space reflect how the environment is perceived and utilized. Testing species from different habitats in the same laboratory environment can uncover the differences in their behavior and their adaptations to specific habitats. The question posed in this study is that of how two rodent species, one occupying flatlands (Tristram’s jird; Meriones tristrami) and the other occupying structured rocky habitats (common spiny mouse; Acomys dimidiatus), differ in the way that they explore the same three-dimensional laboratory environment. Individuals of these two species were introduced into an arena with a five-level ziggurat in the center, and their behavior was followed for 60 min. We found that both species preserved the typical spatiotemporal rodents’ behavior of establishing a home-base—a location that is a terminal from which they set out to explore the environment. However, the jirds, which live in flatlands, mainly travelled on the arena floor and the lower levels of the ziggurat; while, in contrast, the spiny mice, which live in rocky habitats and are used to climbing, mostly remained and travelled on the ziggurat, with some of them hardly descending to the arena floor. We suggest that the distinction in spatial behavior between the two species reflects their different motor abilities, different depth perception, and different umvelt (perceived world), in accordance with their different natural habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On heights and plains: How rodents from different habitats cope with three-dimensional environments?

Hagbi

Eilam

2022

PLoS ONE

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“…They also do not dwell in burrows, but shelter in the crevices between rocks and boulders. Spiny mice also differ from rats and mice in many other aspects (see [ 27 ] for review) and they differ from flatland rodents in particular in-depth perception [ 28 ], distance perception [ 29 ], exploration [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], and excitability [ 33 ]. In accordance with such differences, it was found that environments were perceived differently even by closely related species [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodents Prefer Going Downhill All the Way (Gravitaxis) Instead of Taking an Uphill Task

Ben-Shaul

Hagbi

Dorfman

et al. 2022

Biology

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We directly tested whether, when given the choice to ascend or descend, rodents would favor traveling downwards or upwards. The test incorporated different rodent species that dwell in different habitats and display different life and motor styles. Testing was performed in a three-dimensional Y-maze in which the basis was horizontal and, by rotating it, one arm of the maze could be pointing upwards at a certain angle and the other arm pointed downwards at the same angle. All the tested species displayed a general preference for descent, with rodents from complex habitats being less affected by inclination compared with rodents from flatlands. Unlike laboratory rats, wild species traveled greater distances along the lower compared to the upper maze arm. All the rodents initially tended to travel the entire length of the inclined maze arms, but such complete trips decreased with the increase in inclination. When introduced into the maze from top or bottom, flatland dwellers traveled mainly in the entry arm. Overall, when given the choice to ascend or descend, all the tested species displayed a preference to descend, perhaps as attraction to the ground, where they usually have their burrows.

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“…While limited information is available regarding A. cahirinus reproductive biology, recent research has highlighted several reproductive characteristics that are rare in rodents. Acomys cahirinus produce small litters with precocial young [ 4 ] and a relatively long gestation (~ 39 days; [ 5 ]), cannot become pseudopregnant [ 6 ], and, more recently, were the first rodents to exhibit a natural, human-like menstrual cycle [ 7 ] and a menopause-like transition [ 8 ]. Interestingly, unlike most rodents, A. cahirinus also do not produce a visible copulatory/seminal plug [ 9 ], which provides significant challenges when using mated females for gestational studies as ejaculation, and therefore early pregnancy, cannot be confirmed non-invasively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Good things come to those who mate: analysis of the mating behaviour in the menstruating rodent, Acomys cahirinus

McKenna¹,

Bellofiore²,

Temple-Smith³

2022

BMC Zool

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Background The Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) is the only known rodent to exhibit true, human-like menstruation and postpartum ovulation, and is an important new model for reproductive studies. Spiny mice do not produce a visible copulatory plug, and calculation of gestational age is therefore restricted by the need to use mated postpartum dams. The current inefficient method of monitoring until parturition to provide a subsequent estimate of gestational age increases study duration and costs. This study addressed this issue by comparing the mating behaviour of spiny mice across the menstrual cycle and proposes a more accurate method for staging and pairing animals that provides reliable estimates of gestational age. In experiment 1, mating behaviour was recorded overnight to collect data on mounting, intromission, and ejaculation (n = 5 pairs per stage) in spiny mice paired at menses and at early and late follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. In experiment 2, female spiny mice were paired at the follicular or luteal phases of the menstrual cycle to determine any effect on the pairing-birth interval (n = 10 pairs). Results We report a broad mating window of ~ 3 days during the follicular phase and early luteal phase of spiny mice. Males displayed a discrete ‘foot twitch’ behaviour during intromission and a brief copulatory lock during ejaculation. Litters were delivered after 40–43 days if pairing occurred during the mating window, compared with 46–48 days for spiny mice paired in the late luteal phase. When pairing occurred during the late luteal phase or menses no mating activity was observed during the recording period. Conclusion This study clearly demonstrates an effect of the menstrual cycle on mating behaviour and pregnancy in the spiny mouse and provides a reliable and more effective protocol for estimating gestational age without the need for postpartum dams.

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The precocial mouse, Acomys cahirinus

Cited by 42 publications

References 95 publications

On heights and plains: How rodents from different habitats cope with three-dimensional environments?

On heights and plains: How rodents from different habitats cope with three-dimensional environments?

Rodents Prefer Going Downhill All the Way (Gravitaxis) Instead of Taking an Uphill Task

Good things come to those who mate: analysis of the mating behaviour in the menstruating rodent, Acomys cahirinus

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