Preliminary observations on sexual behavior and the mating system in free-ranging lesser galagos (Galago moholi)

• Published in: American journal of primatology Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 79 - 88
• Main Authors: Pullen, S.L., Bearder, S.K., Dixson, A.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight; Female; Females; galago; Galago - physiology; Male; Males; Mate selection; mating system; Menstrual Cycle - physiology; Primates; Primatology; Rain; seasonal breeding; Seasons; sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Sexual behaviour; Sexual reproduction; Social Behavior; Temperature; testes size; Testis - anatomy & histology
• ISSN: 0275-2565; 1098-2345
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2345(200005)51:1<79::AID-AJP6>3.0.CO;2-B

Sexual and associated patterns of behavior of lesser galagos (Galago moholi) were recorded during an 18‐month study conducted at the Nylsvley Nature Reserve in South Africa. Animals were trapped and fitted with radio transmitter belts in order to monitor nocturnal activities during twice‐yearly mating seasons. Most copulations occurred during the last week in May, while a subsidiary (post‐partum) mating season occurred in late September–early October. Females came into estrus sequentially during the May season. Adult males exhibited increase in body weight and testes volume during the mating season, changes which were most pronounced among the larger males (> 226g). Larger males also had the greatest mating success, initiating 88% of observed copulations. Sixty‐seven percent of matings involved more than one male copulating with the same female during her estrus, which lasted 1–3 days. Mounts were prolonged (range 2–53 min, mean 9.0 min) and males copulated repeatedly (2–5 times) with the same partner during a single night. These observations of sexual behavior and of large relative testes size in free‐ranging lesser galagos are consistent with the occurrence of a dispersed mating system involving sperm competition in this nocturnal prosimian species. Am. J. Primatol. 51:79–88, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.