Development and age estimation of the pouch young of the black-striped wallaby Macropus dorsalis, with notes on reproduction.

Abstract

Macropus dorsalis was capable of breeding throughout the year. The period of gestation was 33 - 36 days. Birth was usually followed by an oestrus and mating, and a subsequent lactation-controlled embryonic diapause. The period between loss of pouch-young and birth was 29 - 30 days. Pouch life was 192 - 225 days and weaning occurred 81 - 159 days after permanent pouch emergence. Sexual maturity, defined as age at first fertility, occurred at 11.3 months in females and 15.7 months in males. Linear mixed-effects models were used to describe polynomial growth equations for age determination of pouch young using both head and pes length. The relationship between error in age prediction and each body measurement was also defined. Head measurements provided the most accurate estimates of the age of pouch young.