2023 Volume 63 Issue 2 Pages 143-155
This report describes the breeding of long-clawed shrews under laboratory conditions. During pairing, females waggled their waists, causing horizontal shaking of the tail, and walked around the males. Mounting was observed on the second day of pairing. In the two pairs with successful subsequent deliveries, mounting was observed 51 and 9 times with average (±SD) durations of 39 ± 59 and 56 ± 54 s, respectively. Similar multiple-mounting behavior was also observed in those pairs for which mating attempts proved unproductive. The gestational period was approximately 21–22 days. Weaning was successful in 4 of the 12 observed deliveries, and the weaning period was approximately 31–36 days. During the lactation period, the females constructed dome-like nests using straw mulch. The activity time of lactating mothers increased as the lactation period advanced. Weanlings attained almost the same body size as subadults, although their body weight did not increase until nine weeks after weaning.
