Diurnal pattern of pre-weaning den visits and nursing in breeding pairs of captive dingoes (Canis dingo)

Publication date: Available online 5 July 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Robyn Hudson, Heiko G. Rödel, Marise T. Elizalde, Gerard A. Kennedy, Bradley P. SmithAbstractThe period before pups are weaned represents a key developmental stage for canids that is directly related to the survivability of the pack. Yet our understanding of the role of the parents during this period when pups are confined to a den is rather limited. We sought further insight into this period by observing diurnal patterns of pre-weaning den visits and nursing behaviour in a captive population of dingoes (Canis dingo). We continuously video-monitored behaviour at dens of four captive, genetically pure, dingo pairs (one litter each) during the first three postpartum weeks just before the start of weaning. Mothers occupied the den almost continuously during the night, but significantly less so during the day, and consistently spent most den time nursing. Fathers were largely absent from inside the den despite lack of apparent aggression from females, low outside temperatures, and space for them inside. They spent a large percentage of time on top of the den, suggestive of sentinel duty, although further experiments are necessary to substantiate this. Although limited to captive animals, our observations are consistent with scant reports of bi-parental care in wild dingoes and with suggestions in the literature that reduced parental care in household and free-ranging domestic dogs might be, at leas...

Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research