Abstract

MONGE, Javier. Ciclo reproductivo de la ardilla Sciurus variegatoides (Rodentia: Sciuridae) en Costa Rica. Cuadernos de Investigación UNED [online]. 2019, vol.11, n.2, pp.105-111. ISSN 1659-4266.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22458/urj.v11i2.2260.

“Reproductive cycle of the squirrel Sciurus variegatoides (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Costa Rica”. Introduction: the squirrel Sciurus variegatoides is one of the most abundant species of squirrels in Central America, yet little is known about its reproduction. Objective: to determine the reproductive cycle of S. variegatoides in an agricultural area of Costa Rica. Methods: monthly (Dec. 1986 to Jan. 1988), I collected 10 animals at Hacienda Curú, Paquera, Costa Rica. I used scrotum presence, testicle size and length of the uterine horns to assess maturity. The reproductive cycle was based on pregnancy, lactation, courtship, nest construction, and proportion of subadults. Results: I collected a total 135 squirrels; sex ratio was 1,7 males per female; and 22% were subadults, both for males and females. I captured the pregnant females from December to June and represented 42% of the adult females. February and April were marked by courtship and an increase in the construction of nests. I collected lactating females from June to September, when I captured more subadults. Conclusion: There was no evidence of reproductive activity in October and November.

Keywords : squirrels; reproduction; population structure; Sciurus variegatoides; Costa Rica.

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