Reprinted from the International Zoo Yearbook Vol. 19 1979

Reproduction in the Ring-tailed Galidia eiegans at the National Zoological Park, Washington

PATRICIA LARKIN & MILES ROBERTS Office of Management, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA

The Ring-tailed mongoose Galidia eiegans is a the other GaHdiinae, , Mungotictis and small graceful viverrid of the subfamily GaK- , in being small (about 350 mm head diinae, one of two viverrid subfamilies endemic and body length), elongate and generally rather to Madagascar. In appearance Galidia resembles -like. The pelage is a deep chestnut BREEOXNG 189

GESTATION COPULATION DATE BIRTH Of YOUNG (days)* REINTRODUCTION OF á

1976 21, 31 Mar 12, 25 Apr 19, 21 May I, 13, 25jun 3 Aug 2sSep 53 6)2) 27 Sep (died at 1 day) 1977 10, 22 Jan 9 Apr 77(89) 14 Apr (died at 2 days) 28 Apr I, II, 25 May 18 Jun 9 Aug 52 (76) 2 Sep (hand-reared) • Calculated from the last observed copjilation date (=day o) and, in parenthesis, from the second to last copulation date. Table i. Chronological breeding history of a pair of Ring-tailed Galidia elegans which has produced three Utters at the National Zoological Park, Washington.

typical of other forest dwelling and the conception, over the next two years until both tail is relatively long with five to six transverse were returned to exhibition. A pairing black rings. Galidia is reported to be primarily with a second vertebrates and Prior to copulation there is considerable (Rand, 1935; Albignac, 1974). Although pre- pursuit of the $ by the

7-12 mount sequences over a 30-80 minute stayed with the infant in a secluded and in- period before the animals tire, separate and accessible part of the enclosure which made it engage in anogenital autogrooming. impossible to determine if nursing had occurred. Copulation at NZP has taken place between Little was seen of her, she ate normally, and two January and October, and births in April, August days later, when the infant's cries had ceased, it and September (Table i). In Madagascar mating was found dead•again, of inanition. Examina- occurs between April and November, with tion showed that the $ had well developed September and October the modal months, and mammaries that produced milk with minimal births occur between August and February, with stimulation. peaks in December, January and February In anticipation of the third birth the ^ was (Albignac, 1974). removed well in advance and the Ç's enclosure Albignac (1969) reported the gestation period covered to provide olfactory, visual and auditory of Galidia to lie between 74-90 days (mean= seclusion from public and staff. After birth she 82-6; n=ii). At NZP births occurred, respec- spent only a few minutes at a time with the tively, 52, 53 and 77 days following the last infant and no nursing was observed; it was observed copulation (Table i). Because the removed for hand-rearing after four hours. copulation immediately preceding birth, in two instances, followed that preceding it by a period INFANT DIET considerably greater than the length of the To allow the infant, a Ç, to adjust safely to the modal oestrous cycle (12 days), there is a pos- artificial nipple, the first two feeds consisted of sibility that this last mating may have occurred 50% dextrose and distilled water. Subsequently, during a false oestrus. If this is considered and all the milk replacer, Esbilac, diluted with gestations are calculated from the second to last water in a ratio of i : 6, was fed every four copulation preceding birth, then periods of 76, hours. On day 5 the solution was strengthened 89 and 92 days (mean=85'6) are obtained. In to I : 3, and on day 10 a small amount of egg all cases single young were bom and mating was yolk was added to counteract the loss of weight usually resumed within three weeks of the which had resulted from a bout of diarrhoea. infant's removal or death. This formula was maintained until day 22, when Three births have occurred at NZP. The first a small quantity of strained beef was also offered was unexpected and the pair remained together at each feed. At day 44 the infant began to eat during and after parturition. We were alerted to small pieces of cooked chicken and raw ground the presence of an infant by the unusual amount beef, and to drink water and milk from a shallow of screaming and squealing arising from the dish; bottle-feeding was now discontinued. enclosure as the $ gave chase to the ¿; even During the first week the infant consumed though Galidia appears to live in mated pairs between 2-4 g formula/feed and gained i-i-i-j g and small family groups, the 9 drives the ¡J in body weight every four hours. This rate of from the nest and keeps him away for several growth continued until the addition of the days post partum (Albignac, 1969). After removal strained beef, whereupon consumption rose to of the CÎ, the ? returned to the infant, but only between 6-7 g/fecd, with a resultant four- for brief intervals of about 30 seconds duration hourly net gain in weight of 2-0-2-5 g. while she continued to pace about the enclosure. Both urination and defaecation required Although it appeared active and vocal in emitting manual stimulation until about day 14. Urination a 'peep' contact call, the cub was never seen to occurred before every feed but, until about nurse. It was found dead 24 hours after birth and three weeks, bowel movements took place only autopsy revealed that it had not suckled. every one to two days. The diarrhoea and weight The (J was removed from the enclosure three loss experienced on day 10 was accompanied by a weeks prior to the next anticipated birth. As general lisdessness and loss of appetite. Within before, the ? showed no signs of impending 24 hours the infant's weight had fallen by 8 g, or parturition. She ate normally and did not about 11% of total body weight. However, construct a nest or frequent nestboxes or crevices after two doses of 2 ml 5% dextrose and 2 ml any more than usual. After this birth the $ feline serum on day 11, improvement was BREBDING 191

650.

6 7 8 age (months) Fig. I. Growth and weight lacrease in the first eight months in a hand-reared 9 Ring-tailed mongoose Gtdidia elegans bred at the National Zoological Park, Washington, in 1977.

immediate and she soon, returned to noimal ordinated attempts at autogrooming were made, feeding routine and activity levels. and on day 15 the first scent mark with the perineal gland. Scent marking with the facial GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT glands occurred later but its initial incidence was Galidia infants are fully furred at birth. The pelage not recorded. The following response was very is identical to that of the adult and the fur is glossy strong almost immediately after the eyes opened and greasy to the touch. The eyes are closed, the and at seven months continues so. At two weeks ears conspicuous and the auditory canal open. the infant was beginning to play with objects, Mystacial vibrissae are conspicuous and approx- either by grabbing them in her mouth and imately 8 mm in length. The muzzle is pointed shaking her head vigorously with typical and no teeth have erupted. In the hand-reared viverrid prey-killing motions, or by pawing at infant, eyes opened on day 4 and the incisors them in characteristic play posture, the head and premolars began to erupt on days 8 and 21 raised and tilted to the side and the mouth open. respectively. At seven months the deciduous By two weeks the cub was also walking about is still intact and the animal's weight the nestbox for most of the waking day, and 593 g. about 75% ofthat of the adult ?. Accord- was able to climb in and out of the box with ing to Albignac (1969, 1974), physical maturity ease. By this time too she was capable of urinating occurs at about one year, and sexual maturity at and defaecating without manual stimulation and two years. had begun rubbing her anogenital region on On day i the cub was already able to drag objects. By six weeks scent marking was copious, herself about the nestbox by her forelegs, hang every new object encountered being marked upside down from a keeper's finger, and right first with the facial glands and then with the herself when placed on her back. A variety of perineal. At the time of her introduction to vocalisations, ranging from twitters and purrs to soHd food, a high pitched squeal entered the squeaks and spits, were emitted from birth. The vocal repertoire. twitter occurred most frequently and is similar Food was often taken to a water dish, sub- to contact calls in other carnivore . With merged, and manipulated, with both forepaws the eyes opening on day 4, the first unco- simultaneously, under water. Often the food 192 BREEDING

Mungotiais Galidia Eupkres Cryptoprocta Surkata

Eyes open (days) birth 4-8 day I birth 15-21 10-12 10-12 Ears open (days) birth birth 8 Crawling (days) birth birth birth birth I birth birth Walking (days) 3 16 1-3 birth 15 Running (days) 27 21 8 S 45 Eating solids (days) 15-20 44 60 33 90 22 25-30 Sexual maturity (years) 2 2 2? 3 I 2 Pelage at birth adult adult dark adult white sparse sparse Weight at birth (g) 50 40-50 150 70 100 25 25-40 No. of young i I I I 2-4 2-5 2-6 Gestation (days) 74-92 80-89 90 70-75 70 Reference Albignac, Albignac, Albignac Albignac, Albignac, Powell, Diicker, 1962 1971, 1973 19Ö9. 1973 1973. 1974 1973 1970, 1973 1913 Ewer, 1963 this study Wemmer, I97S Roberts, 1971 unpubl. Table 2. Comparative reproductive and developmental data in several of the . item was retrieved and returned to the water with the possible exception of Galidictis, they where the entire sequence was repeated. A appear to be opportunistic and readily eat what similar type of two-handed object manipulation is available. All species in the subfamily are small was noted with objects sited in crevices or (less than 1000 g), semi-arboreal, cryptically beneath something larger. In many cases the coloured and suffer prédation mainly from animal would place the item with apparent raptors and large snakes. In general the purpose out of reach in such a location and resemble and occupy the same broad ecological attempt to retrieve it with the forefeet. In nature niche as do the Herpestinae in Africa and Asia. GaUdia reportedly catches fish, and crust- In reproductive and social habits, however, the aceans in shallow water using this method of Galidiinae and the Fossinae (Eupkres and Fossa) prehension (Albignac, 1969) which is very (Wemmer, 1971) are unique among the Viver- similar to that commonly observed in captive ridae in being pair-bonded, territorial and in . giving birth to a single well developed young Occasionally small hard objects and some food per year. There also appears to be a degree of items were gathered into the body with all four paternal investment in infant rearing found only paws while the animal lay on her side and, while in the colonial Suricata and (Ewer, 1963 ; the forefeet held the object loosely, the gathered Rasa, 1972) (but see Aqmlina & Beyer, pp. 185- hind feet would fling it, often in a high arc, 188 on Arctogalidia•Ed.). The young live in the sometimes as far as 2-3 m. This'egg-breaking' family group until the birth of the next litter, at behaviour is also reported in other Galidiinae which time they disperse with sexual maturity (Albignac, 1971), but differs from that described being reached at two years of age (Albignac, in the Herpestinae in that it is the hind limbs 1969). which fling the object, rather than the forefeet Galidia appears to be typical of the Galidiinae which raise it and then drop or throw it behind in all respects. The copulatory behaviour differs the animal. little from that of the Fossinae and Herpestinae but greatly so from that oí Cryptoprocta (Albignac, DISCUSSION 1974, 1975). The single young is less precocial Reproduction, birth and development of Galidia and develops less rapidly than that of the Fossinae, elegans at the National Zoological Park appears but is somewhat more precocial and faster to be identical to that reported for wild and growing than the Herpestinae and considerably captive Galidia in Madagascar (Albignac, 1969). more so than Cryptoprocta (Table 2). Specialised In nature, the Galidiinae are found primarily in submandibular, cheek and perineal glands are dry or wet forest and are largely carnivorous but. used frequently and the species has a number of BREEDING 193 distinct vocalisations, as might be expected in a ALBIGNAC, R. (i973) : Mammifères carnivores. Faune forest dwelling, social and territorial species. In Madagascar 36: 1-207. ALBIGNAC, R. (1974): Observations éco-éthologiques sur general, Galidia has occupied a generalised, le genre , viverride de Madagascar. Terre Vie 28: omnivorous feeding niche, and because of low 321-351. prédation pressures and abundant food resources ALBIGNAC, R. (i975): Breeding the fossa Cryptoprocía exhibits low fecundity and a pair-bonded social ferox at Montpellier Zoo. Int. Zoo Yb. 15: 147-150. system with the maintenance and defence of DÜCKER, G. (1962) : Brutpflegeverhalten und Ontogenese des Verhalten bei Surikaten (Suricata suricatta Schreb., territories. Viverridae). Behaviour 19: 305-340. EWER, R. F. (1963): The behaviour of the , PBODUCT MENTIONED IN THE TEXT Suricata suricatta (Schreber). Z. Tierpsychol. 20: 570-607. Esbilac: dog milk substitute manufactured by Borden POWELL, j. E. (1913): Notes on the habits of the small Chemical Company, Norfolk, Virginia 23501, USA. Indian mongoose auropunctatus. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 22: 620. REFERENCES RAND, A. (1935): On the habits of some Madagascan ALBiGNAc, R. (1969): Notes éthologiques sui quelques mammals. J. . 16: 89-104. carnivores malagaches: le Galiá>a elegans. Terre Vie 23: RASA, A. (1972): Some aspects of social organization in 202-215. captive dwarf mongooses. J. Mammal. 53: 181-185. ALBIGNAC, R. (1970) : Notes éthologiques sur quelques WEMMER, c. (1971) : Birth, development and behaviour carnivores malagaches: le Fossa fossa. Terre Vie 24: of a fanaloka Fossa fossa at the National Zoological Park, 383-393- Washington, DC. Int. Zoo Yb. 11: 113-115. AIBIGNAC, R. (1971): Notes éthologiques sur quelques carnivores malagaches: le Mungotictis lineata. Terre Vie 25: 328-343. Manuscript submitted 31 March 1978

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