Table 4.2 Rodent species for which there is evidence that females mate with more than one male
Type
of
Family Species study Evidence for multiple mating Reference
Heteromyidae Kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) F Observed multiple males entering Randall 1987
female burrow when female in estrus
Merriam’s kangaroo rat (D. merriami) F Observe 1 female with 1 male Randall 1987
Caviidae Yellow-toothed cavy (Galea musteloides) L 90% multiple paternity (N 10) Hohoff et al. 2003
L 83% multiple paternity (N 18) Keil et al. 1999
L Females mated with 2 – 4 males Schwartz-Weig and Sacher 1996
Sciuridae Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) F Females mated with 2 – 4 males Steele and Koprowski 2001
Gray squirrel (S. carolinensis) F Females mated with 2 – 4 males Steele and Koprowski 2001
Red squirrel (S. vulgaris) F 12% mated multiply (N 26) Wauters et al. 1990
Gray-bellied squirrel (Callosciurus caniceps) F Females mated with 4 – 6 males Tamura 1993
Plantain squirrel (C. notatus) F Females mated with 2 – 4 males Tamura 1993
Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) F 33% copulated with1 male (N542) Hoogland 1995
32.5% multiple paternity (N 40)
73.5% multiple paternity in multi-male
coteries (N 34 coteries)
Gunnison’s prairie dog (C. gunnisoni) F 65% copulated with 1 male Hoogland 1998b; Haynie et al.
mean 4.4 males 2003
77% multiple paternity (N44)
Utah prairie dog (C. parvidens) F 71% (N 14) and 90% (N 19) Haynie et al. 2003
multiple paternity
Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) F 43% multiple paternity in multi-male Arnold et al. 1994
groups (N 23 litters)
F 30% multiple paternity in single male Goosens et al. 1998
groups (N 35)
Arctic ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) F Females mated with 1.9 males Lacey et al. 1997
8% multiple paternity (N 12)
Belding’s ground squirrel (S. beldingi) F Females mated with 1–5 males Hanken and Sherman 1981
78% multiple paternity (N 38)
California ground squirrel (S. beecheyi) F All females mated multiply (N 12) Boellstorff et al. 1994
89% multiple paternity (N 9)
Columbian ground squirrel (S. columbianus) F Females mated with 4 males Murie 1995
16% multiple paternity (N 165)
All females mated multiply
Idaho ground squirrel (S. brunneus) F 19% multiple paternity (N 26) Sherman 1989
Richardson’s ground squirrel (S. richardsonii) F 53% mated multiply (N 15) Michener and McLean 1996
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (S. tridecem- F Females mated with 2.3 males Schwagmeyer and Wootner 1985
lineatus) F 0% (1979)–50% (1978) mated Schwagmeyer and Brown 1983
multiply (N 12)
Muridae House mouse (Mus musculus) E 48% multiple paternity (N 58) Manning et al. 1992
Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) F 80% multiple paternity (N 10) Baker et al. 1999
Wood mouse (A. sylvaticus) F 50% multiple paternity (N 6) Baker et al. 1999
E 85% multiple paternity (N 34) Bartmann and Gerlach 2001
Malagasy giant jumping rat (Hypogeomys F 4% EPP (N 48) Sommer and Tichy 1999
antimena)
Bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) F 22.5% obs. & 35.5% est. multiple Ratkiewicz and Borkowska 2000
paternity (N 31)
Red-backed vole (C. rufocanus) E 12.5% multiple paternity (N 29) Kawata 1988
Prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) L 55% (N 47) mated with 1 male Wolff and Dunlap 2002
F 55% multiple paternity (N 9) Solomon et al. 2004
Meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus) L 79.3 copulated 1 male Berteaux et al. 1999
Cricetidae Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) F 10% obs. and 19 – 43% est. multiple Birdsall and Nash 1973
paternity (N 107)
F 17% multiple paternity (N18) Ribble and Millar 1996
White-footed mouse (P. leucopus) F 3% (N 29) 1987 and 19% (N 32) Xia and Millar 1991
1988
NOTES: E enclosures; F field; L laboratory.