Litter size and reproductive condition of small mammals in southern Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

Litter size and reproductive conditions are important in natural history. However, this information is scarce in scientific literature. Here, we presented litter size data for eight small mammal species (four marsupials and four rodents) and investigated the reproductive conditions of three small rodent species in the transition between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado in central Brazil. We counted the number of young born, the number of embryos found in the uterus, and recorded the presence of well-developed teats and evident scrotum to evaluate the reproductive condition. The litter sizes ranged from one (Oecomys bicolor) to 11 (Gracilinanus agilis and Marmosa murina). We did not find evidence of reproductive seasonality. The pattern found here is similar to other studies carried out in different locations of South America.

Keywords

• gracilinanus agilis
• marsupials
• rhipidomys macrurus
• rodents