REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN THE NORTHERN FIVE-STRIPED PALM SQUIRREL FUNAMBULUS PENNANTI WROUGHTON

Reproductive activities of the northern palm squirrel, Funambulus pennati Wroughton from pre-reproductive phase of courtship, mating to post-reproductive activities of nest building and maternal care have been discussed in the present paper. Courtship is initiated by various displays, most of which are performed by the females; these are emission of Sweet mating calls, contact calls, vocalization and allogrooming. Mating continues for a day during which the female mates 4-5 times with the same or different males. Duration of mating act varies from 4 to 30 minutes. Breeding continues throughout the year with peak during MarchApril and July-August. Nest is constructed and guarded by the female in which it brings her litter, which is globular in shape and consists of cloth bits, jute fibers, small twigs of plants, dry grasses and fibers of plastic rope. The nest is situated on tree branches, holes in tree trunks or inside the crevices in the walls of the old buildings. During maternal care mother feeds her young ones, this increases their survival chances. The litter size varies from 2-4 at a time. The newly born are hairless with their eyes closed. The size of new born ranges from 4-5 cm in body length and 1.5-2 cm in their tail. Eyes open between 10" to 15" day after birth and the suckling period lasts upto 25-30 days.