School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Qld 4223, Australia.
Reprod Fertil Dev. 2022 Sep;34(14):920-932. doi: 10.1071/RD22092.
Most of our current knowledge regarding echidna reproductive behaviour is based on qualitative measurements; therefore, it is unclear if specific behavioural cues could be utilised in their captive reproductive management.
This study aimed to identify quantitative changes in general and reproductive behaviour of echidna breeding pairs and pregnant females that might facilitate the detection of oestrus and impending oviposition and provide a summary of reproductive behaviour observed in a captive colony over a three-year observation period.
Three echidna breeding pairs and two trios were monitored daily for seven reproductive and eight general behaviours during the 2020 breeding season. After confirmed copulation, females were monitored for four egg-laying and eight general behaviours until egg incubation. General observations of reproductive behaviours during the 2018-2020 breeding seasons were recorded as part of routine husbandry.
For breeding pairs, there was a significant rate of change over time before and after copulation for the behaviours 'urogenital sniffing', 'rolling' and 'copulation attempt'. For pregnant females, time engaged in 'pacing' significantly increased while 'time eating' and the 'quantity of food eaten' significantly decreased on the day of oviposition. We were not able to identify oestrus from specific behaviours, but our observations suggest that the female echidna's period of receptivity is less than 24h.
The frequency that males express 'urogenital sniffing', 'rolling' and 'copulation attempt' toward the female can be used to alert zookeepers that copulation has likely occurred. Increased pacing, reduced feeding time and quantity of food eaten can aid zookeepers to identify impending oviposition.
This study demonstrates that there are quantifiable changes in specific echidna behaviours that can be incorporated into zoo husbandry practices to improve the reproductive management of this species.
我们目前关于刺豚鼠繁殖行为的大部分知识都是基于定性测量；因此，尚不清楚是否可以利用特定的行为线索来进行其圈养繁殖管理。
本研究旨在确定繁殖配对和怀孕雌性刺豚鼠的一般和繁殖行为的定量变化，这些变化可能有助于检测发情和即将产卵，并总结在三年观察期间观察到的圈养群体中的繁殖行为。
在 2020 年繁殖季节，对三只繁殖配对和两只三重刺豚鼠进行了每日监测，共监测了 7 种繁殖行为和 8 种一般行为。在确认交配后，对雌性进行了 4 次产卵和 8 种一般行为的监测，直到卵孵化。2018-2020 年繁殖季节的繁殖行为一般观察记录作为常规饲养的一部分。
对于繁殖配对，在交配前后，“尿生殖嗅探”、“滚动”和“交配尝试”等行为的变化率有显著的时间变化。对于怀孕雌性，在产卵当天，“踱步”的时间显著增加，而“进食时间”和“进食量”显著减少。我们无法从特定行为中识别发情，但我们的观察表明，雌性刺豚鼠的发情期少于 24 小时。
雄性对雌性表达“尿生殖嗅探”、“滚动”和“交配尝试”的频率可以用来提醒饲养员交配可能已经发生。增加踱步、减少进食时间和减少进食量可以帮助饲养员识别即将产卵。
本研究表明，刺豚鼠的某些行为存在可量化的变化，可以纳入动物园饲养实践中，以改善该物种的繁殖管理。
