Reproductive characteristics of female agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) created in captivity in northeast Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to survey the reproductive data of four females reared in captivity during the period 1998 to 2007 and to associate them with the climatic factors of the region, verifying the presence or absence of seasonality in reproduction. A total of 178 individual monitoring kits were evaluated. These were born at the Center for the Study and Preservation of Wild Animals (NEPAS) of the UFPI in Teresina-PI. By means of the records, the dates of the births, the type of delivery and the number of pups per delivery of each female were recorded. The climatic data of the region were provided by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company - EMBRAPA Meio Norte -Teresina, Piauí. A total of 129 deliveries were recorded during this period. The results show a higher concentration of births between the months of July to February, October with more births, and decrease between March and June. These results may point to an increase in reproductive activity that coincides with the hottest periods of the year and with a lower volume of rainfall. There is a positive correlation between maximum, average and negative temperature with relative humidity, of birth. However, there is a strong correlation with environmental conditions, indicating that births are concentrated in periods of the year preceding the one with the highest food supply, where animals will lose their dependence on the mother during the period of survival.