An evaluation of the courtship behaviour of the male agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) towards introduced females

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of the courtship behaviour of the male agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) towards introduced females

W. M. Mollineau¹*, D. Avril² and G. W. Garcia²

¹Centre for Education Programmes, The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T); and The Open Tropical Forage-Animal Production Laboratory (OTF-APL), Trinidad and Tobago.

²Department of Food Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Production, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, T&T and OTF-APL, Trinidad and Tobago.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: william.mollineau@gmail.com. Tel: 1-868-745-1415.

Accepted 15 April, 2013

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the courtship behaviour of male agoutis reared in an intensive production system. Six male and ten female agoutis were randomly selected and housed in individual cages. Six females together with the males were included in a 6 × 6 Latin Square Design experiment where the six females were introduced into the males’ cages for 48 h periods once per week for six weeks. The other four females were kept as reserves. The initial union of the animals were observed for 20 min during which time the males’ courtship behaviour were recorded. The vaginas of the females were swabbed for the Papanicolaou test before introduction and after the union period with the males to determine the stage of the estrous cycle and the presence of spermatozoa, respectively. The presence of spermatozoa was taken as an indication that mating had occurred and females testing positive were replaced. There was no significant relationship (P<0.05) between males that achieved an erection (72.22%) and the females’ stage of estrous. Males also frequently urinated on females. It was concluded that the male agoutis’ urolagnia may suggest possessive tendencies.

Key words: Male agouti, courtship behaviour, estrous, estrus, urination.