REPRODUCTION AND POSTNATAL ONTOGENY OF MA NDARINE VOLE LASIOPODOMYS-MANDARINUS (RODENTIA, ARVICOLINAE)

The data on intensity of breeding, sexual and parental behaviour, and postnatal development of mandarin vole are given. Mandarin vole has re latively low fertility in laboratory conditions. Succession of formati on of external characters in early postnatal ontogenesis coincide in m andarin vole and in Brandt's vole, unlike species of the subgenus Micr otus. The peculiarities of sexual behaviour (latency, level of genital stimulation) are discussed in the aspects of its ecological specializ ation and social structure of populations.