Reproductive parameters and behaviour of captive short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion) at Perth Zoo
Arthur Ferguson A B and Belinda Turner AA Perth Zoo, 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: arthur.ferguson@perthzoo.wa.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 35(1) 84-92 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12022
Submitted: 3 May 2012 Accepted: 11 July 2012 Published: 26 October 2012
Abstract
Despite a long history of captive short-beaked echidnas in zoos worldwide, there have been very few successful attempts to breed them. Perth Zoo has been successful in breeding echidnas on five occasions, with young produced over 3 consecutive years. In this paper we document the results of intensive monitoring undertaken before and during these successful breeding seasons. Video camera surveillance was used to monitor activity and reproductive behaviour of adults during the courtship and mating period and to identify the timing and duration of incubation. Temperature data loggers were used to record and compare proximal body temperature with observed behaviours. Echidnas were found to breed in June and July, with courtship lasting a mean 5.75 ± 1.7 days (range 4–9 days, n = 8). Mean duration of gestation was 21.8 ± 2.4 days (range 19–27 days, n = 7). Females incubated their single egg for a mean 11 ± 0.75 days (range 11–13 days, n = 5) in an artificial burrow with increased temperature stability.
Additional keywords: captive management, reproductive biology, Tachyglossidae.
References
Abensperg-Traun, M. (1991). A study of home-range, movements and shelter use in adult and juvenile echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus (Monotremata: Tachyglossidae), in Western Australian wheatbelt reserves. Australian Mammalogy 14, 13–21.Augee, M. L. (2008). Short-beaked echidna. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 37–39. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)
Augee, M. L., Gooden, B., and Musser, A. (2006). ‘Echidna: Extraordinary Egg-laying Mammal.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Beard, L. A., and Grigg, G. C. (2000). Reproduction in the short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus: field observations at an elevated site in south-east Queensland. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 122, 89–99.
Beard, L. A., Grigg, G. C., and Augee, M. L. (1992). Reproduction by echidnas in a cold climate. In ‘Platypus and Echidnas’. (Ed. M. L. Augee.) pp. 93–100. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Broom, R. (1895). Note on the period of gestation in echidna. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 10, 576–577.
Griffiths, M. (1989). Tachyglossidae. In ‘Fauna of Australia. Volume 1B: Mammalia.’ (Eds D. W. Walton and B. J. Richardson.) pp. 407–435. (Canberra.)
Hibbard, C., and Wilkins, R. (Eds.) (2011). ‘Australasian Species Management Program: Regional Census and Plan.’ 21st edn. (Zoo and Aquarium Association: Sydney.)
IUCN (2011). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 27 March 2012.
Jackson, S. (2003). Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.) pp. 33–51.
Morrow, G., Andersen, N. A., and Nicol, S. C. (2009). Reproductive strategies of the short-beaked echidna – a review with new data from a long-term study on the Tasmanian subspecies (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus). Australian Journal of Zoology 57, 275–282.
| Reproductive strategies of the short-beaked echidna – a review with new data from a long-term study on the Tasmanian subspecies (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nicol, S. C., and Andersen, N. A. (2006). Body temperature as an indicator of egg-laying in the echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus. Journal of Thermal Biology 31, 483–490.
| Body temperature as an indicator of egg-laying in the echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nicol, S. C., Morrow, G., and Andersen, N. A. (2008). Hibernation in monotremes – a review. In ‘Hypometabolism in Animals: Torpor, Hibernation and Cryobiology’. (Eds B. G. Lovegrove and A. E. McKechnie.) pp. 251–262. (University of KwaZulu-Natal: Pietermaritzburg.)
Perry, L. (2007). Short-beaked echidna: births recorded in the ISIS studbook. Compiled from ISIS 4 database.
Rismiller, P. D. (1992). Field observations on Kangaroo Island echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus multiaculeatus) during the breeding season. In ‘Platypus and Echidnas’. (Ed. M. L. Augee.) pp. 101–105. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Rismiller, P. D. (1999). ‘The Echidna: Australia’s Enigma.’ (Hugh Lauter Leven Associates: Hong Kong.)
Rismiller, P. D., and McKelvey, M. W. (2000). Frequency of breeding and recruitment in the short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus. Journal of Mammalogy 81, 1–17.
| Frequency of breeding and recruitment in the short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rismiller, P. D., and McKelvey, M. W. (2003). Body mass, age and sexual maturity in short-beaked echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 136A, 851–865.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXps1Ortro%3D&md5=2174ec0cc45a805f046da84c9e57049eCAS |
Temple-Smith, P., and Grant, T. (2001). Uncertain breeding: a short history of reproduction in monotremes. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 13, 487–497.
| Uncertain breeding: a short history of reproduction in monotremes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD383lvFyrsg%3D%3D&md5=aacefef6686f6c338c8f76229b29e5adCAS |
