- 著者
-
芳賀 良一
- 出版者
- 公益社団法人 日本実験動物学会
- 雑誌
- 実験動物 (ISSN:00075124)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.7, no.3, pp.69-80, 1958-04-30 (Released:2010-08-25)
- 参考文献数
- 28
Heretofore, studies on ochotona has been limited to the distribution of its habitat and their stored food. The main object of this project was to live-trap ochotona, acquire factual ecological in formations which were necessaay in order to develope ochotona as a new experimental animal.This study was started July, 1957, and is still being continued, and there are still many more problems to be studied concerning ecology and keeping ochotona alive in captivity, but following tare the summary of the results of the study up till now.Ochotona is about the size of a water rat, they are very tame. They are plant-eating animal and their fondness for dried plants seems to be the ircharacteristics.1. Distribution of Ochotona is limited to Mt. Daisetsu, central mountain range, and part of Hidaka range. Population is specially dense in Mt. Daisetsu towards Kitami district.2. Their terrain is mostly in rocky region. Temperature of the interstice is very low even in summer, about 12 to 14 degree centigrade. Their living habit does not seems to be influenced by the outside temperature, humidity nor the vegetation of the region.3. Life span assumed to be from one to three years. Cruising radius about 30 to 40 m. Once settled they will not move from their range.4. They live in the hole or interstice together but do not seem to be cooperative towards each other.5. They do not hibernate. During snowing season, they are active both above the snow and also through the tunnel dug under the snow.6. As far as food is concerned, Ochotona has been observed to eat almost any plant avaiable in the region. They store their winter food in autumn, but during summer, aside from eating fresh plants, they have the habit of temporarily storing and eating half-dried plants.7. There are two kinds of faeces. One, round and pellet like, is usually found at fixed place. The other, long and viscuous, defecated mostly during night on the rock where it is airy. Ochotona has the habit of eating the so called night faeces, and there is every reason to suppose that coprophagy provides the ochotona with various supplies of vitamin B.8. Breeding season assumed between May and July.9. Litter size of Ochotona is between 2 to 3. Cub is slightly furred with eyes closed. About 15 days after birth, they are quite active and independent and they grow rapidly. By the 40th day, it almost reaches its full adult size.10. The author has used the following feed for the captive ochotona: a) quartered apple (fresh) b) lespedeza (bicolor) fresh leaves and flowers and/or half dried leaves, c) wheatgerm meal with supplement of mineral, vitamin A. D., salt and calcium, d) water, or block of ice, 11. Growth rate of captive ochotona was favourable. Increase in growth rate of the young was higher than those of Lemming or the Tundra red back vole.12. Diseases so far found in captive ochotona are as follows: Pneumonia, mycosis, diet defficiency, septicaemia and fly larvae.I wish to express my appreciation to Mrs. Masu Nomura, Miss Michi Nomura of Oiso-machi, Kanagawa Pref., Dr. K. Suzuki of the Veterinary Section for The Institute of the Infectious Diseases for the help given to the author in keeping captive ochotona.