The pattern of reproduction in the mole-rat Heliophobius from Tanzania: do not refrain during the long rains!
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
NRC Research Press
Abstract
The genus Heliophobius Peters, 1846 comprises at least six cryptic, topotypical species in the Heliophobius argenteocinereus
Peters, 1846 species complex. The current study investigated the breeding patterns of a wild-caught population from Tanzania where
the putative species Heliophobius argenteocinereus emini Noack, 1894 resides. Individuals were collected on a monthly basis for an entire
calendar year. Assessment of fœtus presence, gonadal histology, reproductive-tract morphometrics in combination with gonadal
steroid (plasma progesterone and œstradiol-17 in females and testosterone in males) measurements and field observations revealed
that rainfall is important for the onset of breeding. The results further confirmed that breeding is limited to a single, yearly
reproductive event synchronised to the long rainfall pattern. The distinct breeding peak in July is associated with an elevation in
gonadal mass, increase in concentrations of reproductive hormones, and presence of Graafian follicles and corpora lutea in the ovaries
of females. These reproductive parameters coincided with the end of the long rainfall period, whereas presence of young in the
maternal burrow system corresponded with the start of the short rainfall of East Africa. These findings confirm Heliophobius has a
single breeding opportunity each year, and this species is therefore vulnerable to any changes that may impact their climatically
attuned breeding patterns.
Description
Article of Can. J. Zool. 95: 107–114 (2017)
Keywords
Heliophobius, Solitary, Hormones, Histology, Precipitation, Radioimmunoassay, Reproduction