REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MERRIAMS POCKET GOPHER (PAPPOGEOMYS MERRIAMI MERRIAMI) FROM HUITZILAC, MORELOS, MEXICO (RODENTIA, GEOMYIDAE)

Reproductive data were obtained from 91 captures of Pappogeomys merria mi merriami from Huitzilac, Morelos, Mexico, from October 1980 to Octo ber 1981. Thirty percent of those captured were adult males, 47% were adult females, and 23% were juveniles. Female reproductive activity, d efined as pregnancy or lactation, occurred primarily from October thro ugh March, but the potential for year-round reproduction was demonstra ted. The mean sizes of the testes, seminal vesicles, and caudal epidid ymides of the males fluctuated during the year without a discernable p attern, but spermatozoa were present in all males captured year-round. Pregnant females were taken primarily during the dry season; however, juveniles were captured year-round.