Courtship, Mating and Parturition in the Lesser Bushbaby (Galago Senegalensis Moholi) Under Semi-Natural Conditions

Abstract

Courtship and mating behavior in 3 pairs of animals is described. Irrespective of the social conditions, i.e., the presence of other males, females or young, and whether the estrous female is nulliparous or multiparous, courtship and mating is stereotyped and perfunctory. Two parturitions in a multiparous female and 1 in a primiparous female are fully described. Initial observations of maternal behavior following female P''s 4th confinement are briefly reported up to the time of the death of the 2nd twin 12 days after birth. These observations suggest that the mother, distracted by the presence of 2 older infants, approximately 7 weeks of age, neglected her own infants and directed her maternal activities to the older infants This in turn suggests that in natural habitat the mother nests separately from other mothers with young and this, together with the fact that the animals occupy a larger living space, minimises the risk of encountering distracting influences and ensures that maternal behavior will be directed entirely towards her own infants.