Cycle de reproduction du rat noir (Rattus rattus) et du surmulot (Rattus norvegicus) dans différents milieux de la Guadeloupe (Antilles françaises)

Abstract

The reproduction and growth of the black rat R. rattus and of the brown rat R. norvegicus were studied for 18 mo. in different habitats of Guadeloupe. Individuals do not grow to be very large. If in mangroves reproduction stops during the winter, in the other habitats there are fluctuations of the reproductive cycle in conjunction with the rains. The influence of latitude on the breeding season was studied. The number of young per litter is fairly small (an average of 5-4 embryos for the black rat and 5.8 for the brown rat), but some females can have 3 litters a year.