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Abstract

Relationship between parental experience and presence of the father in the parental care exercised by Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). This study aimed to investigate the effects of the presence of the father and previous experience in rearing offspring on parental behavior in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), a species in which both the males and females rear pups. Forty couples with their lifters (4-7 pups) were used. Immediately after the pups' birth, four groups were formed: I) Inexperienced mother and father; II) Inexperienced mother; III) Experienced mother and father; and IV) Experienced mother. Through statistical analysis, it was shown that the mothers of Group I exhibited parental behavior levels which were significantly higher than the fathers of the same group and that their bodily temperatures were higher. On the other hand, in Group III, a significant difference was found only in relation to bodily temperature, which was higher in females. These data indicate an increase in paternal care of the experienced males. In conclusion, it is suggested that the previous experience of the Mongolian gerbil father in rearing young has an influence on the family dynamics, by effectively sharing the rearing of the offspring with the mother.