Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 75 (1): 165-177, 2002
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Social and reproductive behavior of the subterranean solitary rodent Ctenomystalarum
(Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a seminatural enclosure
The social and reproductive behavior of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum
(Thomas, 1898) was studied in a seminatural enclosure resembling both the complexity of the natural burrow system and the
sex ratio observed in wild populations. Contrary to expectations based on their solitariness and their rather simple social system, the
interactions among individuals of this species were diverse and complex. Auditory, tactile and chemical communication were of
importance during territory guarding, courtship and copulatory behavior. Individuals from different populations differing in ecological
attributes behaved in substantially different ways. Males from Mar de Cobo, a population characterized by a high density and a skewed
sex ratio favouring females, behaved aggressively, which resulted in frequent wounding. Males from Mar de Cobo established a
dominance hierarchy among them, which preceded courtship and, eventually, resulted in the dominant male monopolizing mating
activity. On the contrary, males from Necochea, a population showing low density and an even sex ratio, behaved less aggressively;
dominance relationships were absent, and males performed courtship behaviors in the presence of other males.
Key words:
social behavior,
reproduction, subterranean rodents, captivity, Ctenomys talarum
