Longevity and breeding in captive red-tailed phascogales (Phascogale calura)
Hayley J. Stannard A , Casey R. Borthwick A , Oselyne Ong A and Julie M. Old A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Native and Pest Animal Unit, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: j.old@uws.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 35(2) 217-219 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12042
Submitted: 3 September 2012 Accepted: 29 October 2012 Published: 4 February 2013
Abstract
This paper reports successful breeding by 4-year-old female red-tailed phascogales (Phascogale calura) and that they can survive until at least 5 years of age in captivity, whilst males can survive until at least 2 years of age in captivity. These findings have implications for captive breeding programs, providing evidence that older females can be successfully bred. In the longer term we hope these findings may aid conservation efforts of this endangered dasyurid.
Additional keywords: captivity, dasyurid, fertility, marsupial, reproduction, semelparity.
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