Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022;147(3):143-151.
Epub 2022 Oct 26.

[Breeding ecology of Microgale brevicaudata (Tenrecidae) in northeastern Madagascar]

[Article in French]
Fifaliantsoa Rasolobera  1   2 , Toky M Randriamoria  1   2 , Voahangy Soarimalala  1 , Et Steven M Goodman  1   3
Affiliations

[Breeding ecology of Microgale brevicaudata (Tenrecidae) in northeastern Madagascar]

[Article in French]
Fifaliantsoa Rasolobera et al. Bull Soc Zool Fr. 2022.

Abstract
in English, French

With the aim of providing additional information on the reproductive ecology of Microgale brevicaudata G. Grandidier, 1899, the present study examines the breeding season of this species and other related aspects across a range of native forest areas and human modified habitats. This poorly known species occurs in the lowland moist evergreen forest of the Marojejy National Park and the surrounding anthropic zones. Three areas of Marojejy were visited, two of which (Antsahabe and Sarahandrano) during a range of seasons and one (Marojejy NP) during the hot and humid season. Information on the sex, age, and sexual maturity of each captured individual of M. brevicaudata during small mammal surveys and different associated extrapolations indicates that it mates towards the end of the cold and dry season (September-October), and parturition and lactation commence towards the start of the hot and humid season (November-December). Each captured pregnant female had one or two embryos (n = 22). The comparison of reproductive status (X2 = 0.91; df = 2; p > 0.05) and breeding season (X2 = 8.53; df = 7; p > 0.05) of trapped M. brevicaudata indicate that there is no significant difference in the annual breeding cycle between the types of habitats where the species is found on Marojejy, ranging from natural forest to human-disturbed habitats.

Dans le but d’apporter des compléments d’informations sur l’écologie de reproduction de Microgale brevicaudata G. Grandidier, 1899, la présente étude vise à déterminer la saison de reproduction de cette espèce à travers une gamme de types d’habitats et d’autres aspects liés. Cette espèce, mal connue, se trouve dans la forêt dense humide sempervirente de basse altitude du Parc National de Marojejy et les zones anthropiques au pied de ce massif. Trois zones de Marojejy ont été visitées, dont deux (Antsahabe et Sarahandrano) durant les différentes saisons et une (PN de Marojejy) durant la saison chaude et humide. L’identification du sexe, de l’âge et de la maturité sexuelle de chaque individu de M. brevicau-data capturé permet de savoir que l’accouplement chez cette espèce se passe probablement vers la fin de la saison froide et sèche (septembre-octobre) et la parturition et l’allaitement commencent vers le début de la saison chaude et humide (novembre-décembre). Chaque femelle gravide capturée avait un à deux embryons (n = 22). La comparaison de l’état de reproduction (X2 = 0,91 ; ddl = 2 ; p > 0,05) et la saison de reproduction (X2 = 8,53 ; ddl = 7 ; p > 0,05) de M. brevicaudata capturé montre qu’il n’y a pas de différence significative entre les types d’habitats où l’espèce se trouve, allant de la forêt naturelle aux habitats perturbés par l’homme.

Keywords: Madagascar; Marojejy; Microgale brevicaudata; Oryzorictinae; Small mammals; Tenrecidae; reproduction.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Carte de localisation des trois zones d’études dans le Parc National de Marojejy (source : FTM BD 500, REBIOMA modifiée par RASOLOBERA en 2022). Location map of the three study areas in the Marojejy National Park (source: FTM BD 500, REBIOMA modified by RASOLOBERA in 2022).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Maturité sexuelle des mâles de Microgale brevicaudata capturés tous sites confondus. Sexual maturity of captured male Microgale brevicaudata all sites combined.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Maturité sexuelle des femelles de Microgale brevicaudata capturées tous sites confondus. Sexual maturity of captured female Microgale brevicaudata all sites combined.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

  • Astroviruses in terrestrial Malagasy mammals.
    Carcauzon V, Herrera JP, Kaufman K, Baudino F, Wickenkamp N, Randriamoria TM, Soarimalala V, Goodman SM, Nunn CL, Lebarbenchon C, Tortosa P. Carcauzon V, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Jun 14;18(6):e0012263. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012263. eCollection 2024 Jun. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024. PMID: 38875307 Free PMC article.

References

    1. BENSTEAD J, BARNES K & PRINGLE C (2001).- Diet, activity patterns, foraging movement and responses to deforestation of the aquatic tenrec Limnogale mergulus (Lipotyphla: Tenrecidae) in eastern Madagascar. Journal of Zoology, 254, 119–129.
    1. CARLETON MD & GOODMAN SM (1998).- New taxa of nesomyine rodents (Muroidea: Muridae) from Madagascar’s Northern Highlands, with taxonomic comments on previously described forms. In: Goodman SM (ed.), A floral and faunal inventory of the Réserve Spéciale d’Anjanaharibe-Sud, Madagascar: With reference to elevational variation. Fieldiana: Zoology, new series, 90, 163–200.
    1. CARLETON MD & GOODMAN SM (2000).- Rodents of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar. In: Goodman SM (ed.), A floral and faunal inventory of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar: With reference to elevational variation. Fieldiana: Zoology, news series, 97, 231–263.
    1. EISENBERG JF (1975).- Tenrecs and solenodons in captivity. International Zoo Yearbook, 15, 6–12.
    1. EISENBERG JF & GOULD E (1970).- The tenrecs : A study in mammalian behavior and evolution. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 27, 1–137.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources