Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reproductive performance of the wild white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) female in the Peruvian Amazon

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
European Journal of Wildlife Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The ability of any species to support high hunting pressures depends on its reproductive efficiency. Based on the gross anatomic examination of 208 adult female reproductive tracts, we characterised the reproductive biology of the wild white-lipped peccary in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon. White-lipped peccary apparently bred year round in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon, and the number of pregnant females was 80 (38.4%). Mean ovulation rate was 2.09 ± 0.47 CLs, and litter size was 1.60 ± 0.49 embryos or foetuses per pregnant female. A phenomenon of embryo migration was observed in the 27.5% of pregnant females. Estimations suggest 0.89 births per year and a yearly reproductive production of 1.42 piglets per pregnant female. Females in the late pregnancy stage showed a higher hunting vulnerability that could be an important restrictive factor for the reproductive efficiency of the wild white-lipped peccary populations in the Peruvian Amazon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Emmons LH (1997) Neotropical rainforest mammals: a field guide. University of Chicago, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitz Gibbon C (1998) The management of subsistence harvesting: behavioural ecology of hunter and their mammalian prey. In: Caro T (ed) Behavioural ecology and conservation biology. Oxford University, Oxford, pp 449–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottdenker N, Bodmer R (1998) Reproduction and productivity of white-lipped and collared peccaries in the Peruvian Amazon. J Zool 245:423–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jori F, López-Béjar M, Mayor P, López C (2002) Functional anatomy of the ovaries of wild brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus, Gray 1842) from Gabon. J Zool 256:35–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayor P, López-Gatius F, López-Béjar M (2005) Integrating ultrasonography within the reproductive management of the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu). Theriogenology 63:1832–1843

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller OC, Dziuk PJ (2005) Migration of embryos in the anastomosed uterine horns of the pig. Anat Rec 162:137–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nodem DM, de Lahunta A (1993) Endocrinology of domestic animals. Acribia, Zaragoza, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JG, Redford KH (1991) Neotropical wildlife use and conservation. University of Chicago, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Roots CG (1966) Notes on the breeding of the white-lipped peccaries at Dudley Zoo. Int Zoo Ybk 6:198–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank P. Puertas, E. Puertas, M. Antúnez, P. Pérez and all the people from the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Communal Reserve who participated actively in data collection. We are especially thankful for the institutional support provided by the Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana and the Dirección General de Flora y Fauna of Perú.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Mayor & Manel Lopez-Bejar

  2. Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK

    Richard E. Bodmer

Authors
  1. Pedro Mayor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard E. Bodmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manel Lopez-Bejar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pedro Mayor.

Additional information

Communicated by F.-J. Kaup

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mayor, P., Bodmer, R.E. & Lopez-Bejar, M. Reproductive performance of the wild white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) female in the Peruvian Amazon. Eur J Wildl Res 55, 631–634 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0312-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0312-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation