The largest relative testis size among primates and aseasonal reproduction in a nocturnal lemur, M irza zaza

Bibliographic Data

ID8316238
AuthorsEva Johanna Rode‐Margono (Bristol Zoological Society, c/o Bristol Zoo Gardens Clifton Bristol BS83HA UK), K Anne‐isola Nekaris (0000-0001-5523-7353, Nocturnal Primate Research Group Oxford Brookes University Oxford OX30BP UK, corresponding author), Peter M Kappeler (0000-0002-4801-487X, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit German Primate Center Göttingen 37077 Germany), Christoph Schwitzer (Bristol Zoological Society, c/o Bristol Zoo Gardens Clifton Bristol BS83HA UK)
Year2015
Volume158
Issue1
Pages165-169
Publication date2015-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.22773
PMID26119092
OpenAlexW1831836398
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited35

OBJECTIVES: Testis size is an indirect indicator of a species' mating system, along with sexual size and canine dimorphism, existence and usage of mating and advertisement calls as well as the spatial distribution of males and females ready to mate in solitary species. Upon its recent discovery, the northern giant mouse lemur Mirza zaza was suggested to have a polygynandrous mating system and to exhibit seasonal breeding. We tested these predictions in a field study in Sahamalaza National Park, NW Madagascar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We caught 12 M. zaza, before and during the suggested mating period and obtained standard field morphometric measurements, including testes size. RESULTS: We show that M. zaza has the highest relative testis volume among primates, indicating strong sperm competition and polygynandrous mating. In addition, based on inferred age of captured animals, observed mating behavior, a female caught in met-estrus and data from captivity, we suggest M. zaza to be one of the few lemurs that breed aseasonally. DISCUSSION: Future field work on this endangered species is required to illuminate the causes and consequences of intense promiscuity and aseasonal breeding despite strong habitat seasonality, which distinguish M. zaza from most other nocturnal lemurs

Biology · Breed · Endangered species · Habitat · Lemur · Mating · Mating system · Nocturnal · Primate · Reproduction · Sexual dimorphism · Sperm competition · Zoology · Ecology · Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

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