GROWTH OF PIKA IN LABORATORY CONFINEMENT

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (1) , 66-72
Abstract
Captive-born pikas (O. princeps) from 13 litters were maintained for up to 3 mo. in a laboratory. Mean litter size was 2.69 .+-. 0.75, with litters of 3 the most frequent, representing 68% of all litters observed. Mean individual birthweight was 11.7 g with a range of 8.8-16.8 g. Weights were taken every other day from birth, which yielded a growth curve equation of y = 12.18 + 1.72x. There was a strong positive linear correlation between body weight and time (r = 0.98, P < 0.001) and a significant difference was noted between sexes, with females being the heaviest. Subjects reached adult weight within 3 mo. These data represent the 1st reports of growth in this species and indicate that pikas are among the fastest growing species within the order Lagomorpha.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: