Multiple births in Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeius schlieffenii (Peters, 1859) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the southern African subregion

Abstract

Nycticeius schlieffenii is a monestrous species that breeds during the spring months in the northern parts of the Kruger National Park. During spring 1983 the average number of corpora lutea in 11 Nycticeius schlieffenii females was 3, 1 (range 1-4), with the average number of fetuses recorded 2, 8. In the present study this bat has been found to be a polyovular seasonal breeder, giving birth to as many as three young per estrous cycle.