Sexual behavior of Ctenomys pearsoni (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in “Carrasco” population (Montevideo - Uruguay)

Abstract

Ctenomys is a genus of South American subterranean rodents that is distributed from Peru to southern Argentina and Uruguay. The present work studies the reproductive behavior (courtship and copula) of Ctenomys pearsoni (Carrasco population, Uruguay). To carry out the characterization, we used an ethogram with 19 behavioral units grouped into different categories. By studying 10 couples we quantified the frequency of occurrence and the time invested in each behavioral unit during the development of the interaction. Through the analysis of the results, the roles of each partner and the importance of each one's role in the development of reproductive behavior are inferred. The results obtained are compared with the data available for other populations of the species and other species of the genus. We discussed the relevance of classifying the reproductive pattern on the basis of the Dewsbury classification. Finally, the importance of each sex in the development and molding of reproductive behavior is discussed.