Abstract

POLEO, Carmen J; FUENTES, Lilian  and  VIVAS, Luis. Reproductive characterization of a population Zygodontomys brevicauda (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in rice fields, Guárico State, Venezuela. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2010, vol.60, n.3, pp.43-48. ISSN 0002-192X.

In Venezuela, rodent species causing damage in crops belong to wildlife species of Cricetidae which are associated to areas where coverage and food sources are available. To determine reproductive status of the brown mouse, Zygodontomys brevicauda, a sample consisting of 3.629 specimens captured in filed rice from Guárico state were analyzed. Capture was made by using kill-trap settled 7-m apart on borders of plots grown. Traps were baitedusing pumpkins (Curcubita maxima), installed at 17:00 h in field and checked at 7:00 h during 2 consecutive days. Sex and weight were registered in specimens captured; count of embryos in females as well as testicle position in males. Specimens were classified by weight-group, then mean weight rated by class and sex, pregnant female (PF) percentage, mean count of embryo and percentage of scrotated (ST) and abdominal testicle (AT) males were calculated. All group I, showed AT and a positive and significance association between weight and ST males were found (r = 0,76; P = 0,05). The obtained results demonstrate the reproductive potencial of the species in the study area where abundant sources of resources exist, facilitating its proliferation and in some circumstantial to cause damages in farming

Keywords : Zygodontomys ; brevicauda; reproduction; rice; Guárico; Venezuela.