Breeding bandicoots in Brisbane (Isoodon macrourus; Marsupialia, Peramelidae).

Abstract

Eighty-three adult female Common Short-nosed Bandicoots, lsoodon macrourus, were trapped in the environs of Brisbane from July, 1976 until November, 1980, and the number of births per month was calculated. One birth was observed in the months of April to June, the remaining 82 births occurred in the other nine months of the year. Similarly, 53 births were observed over 43 months of study with animals housed in a 900 m2 enclosure; only two of these births occurred in the months April to June. The findings indicate that there is a decrease in breeding during autumn and early winter in both wild and captive populations of bandicoots. The number of pouch young in 51 bandicoots caught in the wild decreased from 3.6 ± 0.3 young per litter (x̄, SE n = 14) on days 1-10 of lactation to 2.1 ± 0.4 (x̄, SE n = 9) on day 41 and onwards of lactation. A similar result was obtained from a breeding colony held within an enclosure. The litter size decreased from 4.0 ± 0.4 (x̄, SE n = 4) immediately after birth to 2.4 ± 0.6 (x̄, SE n = 9) on day 41 to the end of lactation, the period of lactation being approximately 60 days.