Observations on the postnatal growth and development of captive Ethiopian hedgehogs, Paraechinus aethiopicus, in Qatar
-
Mohammad A. Abu Baker
,
Ivan Mohedano
Abstract
The postnatal growth and development of the Ethiopian hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) were studied in captivity. Seven females produced seven litters that ranged between two and five young (average 3.3, SE±0.42) with an estimated gestation period of 34–46 days. Offspring sex ratio was heavily skewed toward females by 1:6.5. Newborns were altricial and weighed an average of 8.8±1.25 g (n=6) at 2–5 days old. Young were observed rolling-up for the first time at 7–22 days old, and their eyes opened at 22–30 days. They sampled solid food for the first time at 16–27 days, weaned at 30–38 days, and were feeding solely on solid food at 38–40 days old. Body weight increased on average by 3.6±0.28 g/day before weaning, 1.4±0.38 g/day during the weaning period, and 4.7±0.82 g/day after weaning. The slow growth during the weaning period marks the shift to solid food and independence from the mother. Development was generally faster in litters born later in the season. Despite the variation between litters, key postnatal developmental milestones and body length provided better estimates of growth and development than body weight.
Acknowledgments
This report was made possible by a NPRP award (NPRP 5-083-1-019) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation). The work was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Qatar University (reference number: QU–IACUC 008/2012). We are grateful to Mr. Abu Baker Eltayeb and the staff at the Qatar University Farm for providing access to the site and for logistical support. Two anonymous reviewers provided comments that greatly improved the manuscript.
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©2016 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Original Studies
- Wild yak Bos mutus in Nepal: rediscovery of a flagship species
- Habitat altitude and home range of the endangered long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus): seasonal and monthly home range and altitude change
- Sympatric guanacos and livestock share water resources in drylands of Argentina
- Geographic distribution of the European hare (Lepus europaeus) in Brazil and new records of occurrence for the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes
- Bark-stripping damage by Callosciurus finlaysonii introduced into Italy
- Observations on the postnatal growth and development of captive Ethiopian hedgehogs, Paraechinus aethiopicus, in Qatar
- A review of bristly ground squirrels Xerini and a generic revision in the African genus Xerus
- Field identification of Apodemus flavicollis and Apodemus sylvaticus: a quantitative comparison of different biometric measurements
- Increased species diversity of brush-tailed mice, genus Calomyscus (Calomyscidae, Rodentia), in the Zagros Mountains, western Iran
- Short Notes
- First record of the bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus (Thomas, 1892) (Rodentia: Muridae) in Oman
- Characteristics of den, den tree and sites selected by the Persian squirrel in Zagros forests, western Iran
- Putative predation of Miniopterus schreibersii (Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera) by Zamenis longissimus (Colubridae, Reptilia) in the Albanian National Park of Prespa Lakes
- First record of Salvin’s big-eyed bat Chiroderma salvini Dobson, 1878 for Brazil
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Original Studies
- Wild yak Bos mutus in Nepal: rediscovery of a flagship species
- Habitat altitude and home range of the endangered long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus): seasonal and monthly home range and altitude change
- Sympatric guanacos and livestock share water resources in drylands of Argentina
- Geographic distribution of the European hare (Lepus europaeus) in Brazil and new records of occurrence for the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes
- Bark-stripping damage by Callosciurus finlaysonii introduced into Italy
- Observations on the postnatal growth and development of captive Ethiopian hedgehogs, Paraechinus aethiopicus, in Qatar
- A review of bristly ground squirrels Xerini and a generic revision in the African genus Xerus
- Field identification of Apodemus flavicollis and Apodemus sylvaticus: a quantitative comparison of different biometric measurements
- Increased species diversity of brush-tailed mice, genus Calomyscus (Calomyscidae, Rodentia), in the Zagros Mountains, western Iran
- Short Notes
- First record of the bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus (Thomas, 1892) (Rodentia: Muridae) in Oman
- Characteristics of den, den tree and sites selected by the Persian squirrel in Zagros forests, western Iran
- Putative predation of Miniopterus schreibersii (Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera) by Zamenis longissimus (Colubridae, Reptilia) in the Albanian National Park of Prespa Lakes
- First record of Salvin’s big-eyed bat Chiroderma salvini Dobson, 1878 for Brazil
