Reproductive Behaviour of the Marsupial Mouse, antechinus flavipes (Waterhouse) (Marsupialia) and the development of the Pouch young.

Abstract

Techniques for the capture and maintenance of Antechinus flavipes in the laboratory are described. Reproduction is restricted to early August when protracted copulation of more than 5 hr occurs. The young are born early in September after a mean gestation period of 31.5 days. The average litter size is 6.8. The neonatus has a well-developed head and fore limbs while the posterior end of the body is strongly flexed ventrally. Only rudiments of the hind limbs are present. The crown-rump length of a neonatus is 4.9 mm and its weight 0.0164 g. The development and growth of the pouch young are described. Sex can be determined at an age of 25 days and the eyes open at about 62 days. Suckling continues for 90 days and sexual maturity is probably achieved after 320 days in the August following birth. The neonatus of A. flavipes and features in its development are compared with other marsupials and a placental, Mus musculus, of comparable dimensions. The slow reproduction rate and difficulty in handling do not recommend A. flavipes as a possible laboratory animal.