Reproduction in the Indian mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei hardwickei (Chiroptera, Rhinopomatidae)

Abstract

At and near Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, India, R. h. hardwickei had a strictly defined annual reproductive cycle. Although many females were inseminated during late February to mid April, ovulation was not recorded until 11 March. Progressively more females ovulated and conceived during the following weeks until the end of April and released one ovum from either of the ovaries with nearly equal frequency. A single conceptus was carried in the ipsilateral uterine cornu during each cycle. The gestation period was 95-100 days. Births occurred between the second week of June and the end of July. Lactation lasted at least 20 days. Females attained sexual maturity at an age of 8.5-9.0 months. Males took at least 16-17 months to attain sexual maturity. Females were segregated during lactation; during the rest of the year, males and females lived together.