Reproduction in South American wild canids-A review

Jaqueline Candido de Carvalho; Fabiana Ferreira Souza; John Patrick Kastelic; João Carlos Pinheiro Ferreira

doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.986030

Reproduction in South American wild canids-A review

Front Vet Sci. 2022 Oct 24:9:986030. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.986030. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jaqueline Candido de Carvalho^{1

2}, Fabiana Ferreira Souza¹, John Patrick Kastelic³, João Carlos Pinheiro Ferreira¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
² Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Abstract

Canids occupy the top of the food chain and are fundamental in sustaining a wild animal/environmental balance. South America, the most biodiverse continent, has 11 species of canids inhabiting diverse biomes, with or without overlapping territories. Although several species are threatened, little is known about their reproductive biology. Remarkably, basic knowledge regarding ejaculate characteristics, sexual behavior, female reproductive cycles, pregnancy and management, and parturition are scarce or absent. These gaps complicate or preclude development of conservation programs. This review compiles the current knowledge of the reproductive biology of South American canids and discusses implications of this scenario.

Keywords: Canidae; biotechnology; carnivore; conservation; reproductive physiology.

Publication types

Review