Reproduction of the purple-necked rock-wallaby, Petrogale purpureicollis Le Souef (Marsupialia : Macropodidae) in captivity, with age estimation and development of the pouch young

Abstract

Reproduction of the purple-necked rock-wallaby, Petrogale purpureicollis, was studied in captivity. The length of the oestrous cycle was 36–38 days followed by a gestation period of 33–35 days. Birth was usually followed by an oestrus and mating, and a subsequent lactation-controlled embryonic diapause. The interval between loss of pouch young and birth was 30–36 days. Pouch life was 178–197 days and weaning occurred 92–171 days after permanent emergence from the pouch. The youngest age at which sexual maturity was reached was 21.8 months for males and 18 months for females. Linear mixed-effects models were used to describe polynomial growth equations for age determination of pouch young using both head and pes length. The relationship between error in age prediction and each body measurement was also defined. Head measurements provided the most accurate estimates of the age of pouch young.