FIRST SUCCESSFUL BREEDING OF THE BLIND MOLE-RAT (SPALAX-EHRENBERGI) IN CAPTIVITY

Breeding solitary fossorial mammals in captivity is notoriously diffic ult. To date, all attempts to breed the blind mole rat (Spalax ehrenbe rgi), a solitary and highly aggressive subterranean rodent, have faile d. Consequently, its reproductive biology remains unknown. The present work is the first report of initiation of mating leading to successfu l pregnancy, delivery, and rearing of pups in captivity. Spalax ehrenb ergi shows a 7-8 day periodicity in courtship behavior prior to the in itiation of mounts. The length of pregnancy in this species is 34 days . A female and her son were housed for one year in a simulated burrow system where they established two independent adjacent territories. Du ring the breeding season the animals had the option to avoid or initia te contact at will. This management concept of naturalistic conditions and minimal interference by the investigators undoubtedly contributed to the breeding success. The ability to breed this solitary aggressiv e fossorial rodent successfully will enable us to investigate its basi c reproductive biology and development.