SOME ASPECTS OF THE REPRODUCTION, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BANDICOTA INDICA IN CAPTIVITY

Y.M. LAM

Abstract

Post-natal growth of Bandicota indica was studied for litters born in the laboratory. Detailed observations on growth and morphological development were made and the physical development of the young were described from one to 28 days. Litter size of captive females varied from one to nine with a mean of 5.0 + 0.4 and those in the wild varied from two to ten with a mean of 5.3 + 0.7. Mean birth weight for males and females were 10.2 + 0.2 g and 9.5 + 0.1 g respectively. The birth weights of the young were negatively correlated with litter size. Sex ratio in the litters was slightly in favour of males but it did not depart significantly from the expected ratio of 1 : 1 . The post-natal development of B. indica can be divided into neonatal (1-10 days), transitional (11-20 days), socialization (21-28 days) and juvenile periods (29-sexual maturity). Mean age at sexual maturity for males was 59.9 + 2.3 days and for females 63.4 + 1.8 days.

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