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    Reproductive strategies and natural history of the arboreal Neotropical vesper mouse, Nyctomys sumichrasti

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    Issue Date
    2013-10
    Author
    Romero, Andrea
    Timm, Robert M.
    Publisher
    Mammalia
    Type
    Article
    Article Version
    Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
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    Abstract
    The vesper mouse, Nyctomys sumichrasti (Rodentia: Cricetidae), a poorly known, arboreal, nocturnal, rodent found in Central America, has been considered rare, and limited information is available about its biology, especially reproduction. We obtained vesper mice from several sites in Costa Rica and prepared them as scientific specimens with standard external measurements and reproductive data recorded. We expanded our dataset by including specimens from museum collections. Vesper mice have 1:1 sex ratios throughout their range. They reproduce year-round and litters may occur in rapid succession. Testis size is positively correlated with body mass, but we could not determine onset of sperm production. The onset of reproduction for females, based on mass, is variable but most females are parous by 60 g. Litter size is small with a mode of 2 and embryos are not evenly distributed across the uterine horns. Vesper mice exhibit striking morphological differences in terms of tooth-wear and pelage patterns across their range. Much work is needed to fully appreciate N. sumichrasti, its role in tropical habitats, and its reproductive biology. Resumen El ratón, Nyctomys sumichrasti (Rodentia: Cricetidae), es una especie de roedor arborícola y nocturna de América Central, que se considera raro y sobre el cual se tiene muy poca información acerca de su biología, particularmente acerca de su reproducción. Nosotros obtuvimos ratones en varias localidades en Costa Rica, los preparamos como especímenes científicos y tomamos datos morfológicos y de su reproducción. El conjunto de datos se amplió utilizando especímenes de museos. El ratón mantiene una proporción de sexos de 1:1 a lo largo de su distribución. Esta especie se reproduce durante todo el año y las camadas pueden tener lugar en una rápida sucesión. El tamaño de los testículos se correlacionó positivamente con la masa corporal, pero no se pudo determinar el comienzo de la producción de esperma. El inicio de reproducción en las hembras, basado en la masa corporal, es variable, pero para la mayoría de ellas comienza a los 60 g. El tamaño de la camada es pequeño, generalmente 2, y los embriones no se distribuyen uniformemente a través de los cuernos uterinos. El ratón muestra sorprendentes diferencias morfológicas en términos de patrones de desgaste de la dentadura y el pelaje a través de toda su distribución. Se necesita mucha más investigación para entender mejor ésta especie, su papel en hábitats tropicales y su biología reproductiva.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12441
    Collections
    • Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Scholarly Works [738]
    • Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Scholarly Works [1516]
    Citation
    Romero, A., and R. M. Timm. 2013. Reproductive strategies and natural history of the arboreal, Neotropical vesper mouse, Nyctomys sumichrasti. Mammalia 77(4):363-370.

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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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