Copulatory Behavior and Related Phenomena in Spiny Mice (Acomys cahirinus) and Hopping Mice (Notomys alexis)

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Abstract
Spiny mice, Acomys cahirinus, are unusual muroid rodents in that females produce spontaneously active corpora lutea during estrous cycles. Their copulatory behavior is characterized by an incipient lock, no intravaginal thrusting, multiple intromissions preceding ejaculation, and multiple ejaculations, but with a low number of ejaculations per test. Hopping mice, Notomys alexis, are unusual with respect to the small testis size, reduced complement of accessory glands, and large penile spines, all of which combine to predict a locking pattern of copulation. As predicted, hopping mice display a true lock. They also display a lack of both intravaginal thrusting and multiple intromissions, and generally cease copulating with the occurrence of the first lock. These and supplementary data can be combined to generate a prediction of monogamy in the field for hopping mice and a similar, but much weaker, tendency for spiny mice.