Pre‐ and post‐natal development of pouched mice, Saccostomus campestris

Abstract

Pre‐ and post‐natal growth of the pouched mouse (Saccostomus campestris) were investigated and growth curves were calculated as described by Stevens (1951). Measured values of foetal weights put into Huggett & Widdas' equation (1951) revealed that the actual correction factor for species with a gestation period of 50 days or shorter was different from the one given by Huggett & Widdas. Therefore, the calculated value of specific growth velocity for pouched mice was lower than when using the correction factor given by Huggett & Widdas (1951).Ninety percent of the asymptotic body weight was attained at an average age of 135.2 and 143.1 days for males and females, respectively, while 90% of the asymptotic body length was achieved when males and females were 71.9 and 69.3 days old, respectively. Post‐natal growth rates of females and males were not significantly different from each other, and the average rate of weight increase for male and female pouched mice was lower than for other rodents studied (see Case, 1978).Ages at which tooth eruption, eye‐opening and eye usage occurred were also recorded.