The oestrous cycle of the rufous elephant-shrew, Elephantulus rufescens.

Elephantulus rufescens is one of 15 species of elephant-shrews (F. Macroscelididae), a specialized group of mammals confined to the continent of Africa (see Rathbun, 1979, for review). Since elephant-shrews have only recently been successfully bred in captivity (Rathbun, Beaman & Maliniak, 1981), information on their reproduction has largely been obtained from examination of the reproductive organs of dead animals (e.g. van der Horst, 1946, 1950). Estimates of oestrous cycle length have been derived from inter-birth interval data from species that conceive within a few days of parturition; thus Tripp (1972) estimated cycle length at 14-15 days in E. intufi and Rathbun et al. (1981) suggested a cycle of 7-10 days in E. rufescens. The present study was under¬ taken to determine more directly the length of the oestrous cycle in E. rufescens.