Seasonal changes in the reproductive pattern of feral Herpestes auropunctatus (Carnivora: Viverridae), in the Fijian Islands

The annual reproductive cycle of the mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus has been described for animals introduced to the Fijian island of Viti Levu. Testis weight followed a seasonal cycle with a low from February to July and a peak from September to December; despite this, spermatogenesis continued throughout the year. The cycle of numbers of spermatozoa stored in the epididymis followed that of testis weight. Leydig cell nuclei showed no seasonal pattern, but weights and histology of the accessory organs of reproduction indicated a seasonal cycle of androgen production, similar in pattern to that of testis weight. Pregnant females were found from August to February. Oestrus was post‐lactational and most females had two litters per year. Pregnancy lasted for 46–49 days and lactation for three to five weeks. Mean fecundity was 1.8 embryos per pregnant female. Comparison of the breeding seasons in Fiji (18d̀S) and in Hawaii (21d̀N) indicates that daylength is the major proximate factor determining the onset of breeding.