Features of reproduction and postnatal ontogenesis in the Gromov vole (Alexandromys gromovi Vorontsov et al., 1988)

S.A. Sablina, E.P. Tikhonova and F.N. Golenishchev

Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2015, 319(3): 418–427 · https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2015.319.3.418

Full text

Abstract

The research was carried out on a laboratory colony of voles Alexandromys gromovi Vorontsov et al., 1988 from Khabarovsk Territory. Nine couples of the first and second laboratory generations were involved in reproduction. Nineteen litters (79 pups) were weighed and measured every day for two weeks. Weight, length of the body, tail and foot were recorded. Special aspects of pups development (time of ears separation, dactyl’s apostatis on the fore- and hindlimbs, teething of upper and lower incisors, eyes opening, hairline formation) and behaviorial patterns were registered. Results were compared with literature data on voles A. mongolicus and A. middendorffii («mongolicus» bunch), which are closest to A. gromovi on molecular-genetic data, and A. maximoviczii (A. gromovi was previously seen as its subspecies). Similarities of young ones growth and signs of maturity (separation of ears, teething of incisors, eyes opening) were revealed during the comparison with A. mongolicus. The biggest difference was observed between A. gromovi and A. maximowiczii.

Key words

ontogeny, reproduction, comparison, Alexandromys gromovi, A. maximowiczii, A. mongolicus, A. middendorffii

Submitted December 10, 2014 · Accepted August 31, 2015 · Published September 25, 2015

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