Sains Malaysiana 38(4)(2009): 595–600

Lakuan Maternal Landak Raya (Hystrix brachyura) di Dalam Kurungan

(Maternal Behaviour of Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) in Captivity)

A.H. Norsuhana*

Bahagian Biologi, Pusat Pengajian Pendidikan Jarak Jauh

Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Shukor Md. Nor

Pusat Pengajian Sains Sekitaran dan Sumber Alam, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

A. Aminah

Pusat Pengajian Sains Kimia dan Teknologi Makanan, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E, Malaysia

Z. Zainal Zahari

Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN), Km. 10 Jalan Cheras 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 26 June 2008 / Accepted: 20 December 2008

ABSTRAK

Kajian lakuan maternal Landak Raya (Hystrix brachyura) di dalam kurungan telah dijalankan selama dua bulan dengan enam sesi pemerhatian, iaitu Sesi Pemerhatian 1-6 (SP 1 –SP 6). Kaedah pemerhatian yang digunakan adalah kaedah fokal berterusan dan sampel menggunakan seekor ibu dan anak Landak Raya. Lakuan yang telah dikenalpasti ialah rehat, menyusu, gerak, jilat anak dan makan. Terdapat perbezaan yang bererti (p<0.05) untuk aktiviti rehat dan menyusu bagi peratus masa yang diperuntukkan bagi SP 1 hingga SP 6. Manakala untuk aktiviti lain (gerak, jilat anak dan makan) didapati tiada perbezaan bererti (p>0.05) untuk peratus masa yang diperuntukkan untuk SP 1 hingga SP 6. Lakuan utama pada bulan pertama (SP 1 - SP 3) adalah rehat dan diikuti oleh menyusu, tetapi sebaliknya pada bulan kedua (SP 4 - SP 6) yang menunjukkan lakuan menyusu lebih tinggi dan diikuti oleh rehat. Ibu Landak Raya mempunyai enam puting susu yang terletak pada bahagian sisi lateral kiri. Anak Landak Raya lebih cenderung memilih puting susu di bahagian hadapan (T1 dan T2) semasa aktiviti menyusu berlangsung. Dalam kajin ini tidak dapat dikenalpasti waktu penceraian susu bagi anak Landak Raya kerana sehingga SP 6 berlangsung, lakuan menyusu masih berterusan, malahan kadar tempoh menyusu semakin meningkat.

Kata kunci: Kurungan; lakuan maternal; landak raya

ABSTRACT

Maternal behaviour study of captive Malayan porcupines (Hystrix brachyura) was conducted within 2 months where six observation sessions were conducted, from Observation Sessions 1-6 (OS 1- OS 6). Observation session was carried out using continuous focal observation method. A single mother and new born Malayan porcupine was used as a sample. Identified maternal behaviors were resting, suckling, moving, licking newborn and eating. Time spent on resting and suckling was different (p<0.05) among OS 1- OS 6. In contrast, other activities such as moving, licking newborn and eating, were no different (p>0.05) significantly among observation sessions. The dominant behavior in first month observation (OS 1 - OS 3) was resting and followed by suckling. Different pattern was demonstrated in the second month (OS 4 - OS 6) where suckling by the newborn was found the highest and followed by resting. The mother has six teats located in the lateral thoracic (three in right lateral and three in left lateral). The observation showed that newborn porcupine preferred to use the front teats (T1 and T2) during suckling. Weaning time cannot be determined during the observation period, due to suckling behavior and time spent on suckling continued and increased.

Keywords: Captivity; Malayan porcupine; maternal behavior

REFERENCES

Alcock, J. 1975. Animal Behaviour, An Evolutionary Approach. Sunderland: Edward Arnold Publ. Comp.

Altman, J. 1974. The observational study on behavior: Sampling method. Behavior 4: 227-231.

Dahlan, I. 1997. Bolehkah Landak Dipelihara di dalam Sangkar. Dewan Masyarakat Februari: 27.

Deag, J.M. 1980. Social Behavior of Animals. Southampton: The Camelot Press Ltd.

Dethier, V.G. & Stellar, E. 1970. Animal Behavior. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.

Gosling, L.M. 1980. Reproduction of the Himalayan porcupine (Hystrix hodgsoni) in captivity. Journal of Zoology London 192: 546-549.

Immelmann, K. 1980. Introduction to Ethology. New York: Plenum Publ. Corp.

Inners, D.G.L. & Millar, J.S. 1981. Body weight, litter size and energetic of reproduction in Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus pennsylvanicus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 58: 785-789.

Johnson, M.H. & Everitt, B.J. 1980. Essential Reproduction. Ed. ke-5. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.

Konig, B., Riester, J. & Markl, H. 1988. Maternal care in house mice (Mus musculus): The energy cost of lactation as a function of litter size. Journal Zoological London 216: 195-210.

Lehner, P.N. 1979. Handbook of Ethological Methods. New York: Garland STPM Press.

McFarland, D. 1981. The Oxford Componion to Animal Behaviour. New York: Oxford University Press.

Medway, L. 1978. Mammal of Borneo. Kuala Lumpur: Percetakan Mas Sdn. Bhd.

Nihayah, M., Helmy. B & Dahlan, I. 1995. Beberapa aspek perilaku Landak Borneo (Thecurus crassisipinis) dan Landak Raya (Hysterix brachyura) dalam kurungan. Prosiding Kolokium Sumber Alam III: 125-132.

Pazil, A.P. 2004. Behaviour and reproductive cycle of long tailed porcupine (Trichys fasciculata) in captivity at Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve, Selangor. Tesis Sarjana Fakulti Sains danTeknologi. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Phillips, S. 1971. Animal Weapon. London: Grenada Pbl. Ltd.

Pigozzi, G. 1993. On the distribution, management and conservation of the crested porcupine. Atti della Soc. Itl 133(3): 33-40.

Tweedie, M.W.F. 1978. Mammal of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Logman.

*Corresponding author; email: norsuhana@usm.my