Mating and Reproductive Information

Reproductive Behavior

Females in estrus travel widely

• Females vocalize to advertise receptivity

  • Produce loud roars to attract potential mates

  • Several males may follow female

• Males rarely fight over a female

Mating pair forms a temporary association

• When courting, the male and female travel and feed together

  • Associates separate after mating

Copulation

• Rapid and frequent, observation in managed care settings

  • Female often growls

  • Male commonly licks the nape of his partern's neck

Reproduction

Year-round reproduction

• Births concentrated seasonally

  • Many occur during the rainy season (when prey is abundant)

  • Births more common in the summer months in more temperate climates

Estrus

• Duration

  • c. 12 days

  • Cycles c. 47 days, ± 5 days (females in managed care)

Ovulation induced by mating

Gestation & Birth

Gestation

• Duration

  • c. 100 days

Birth

• Litter size

  • Twins are most common

  • Up to 4 cubs

• Infant characteristics

  • Weight c. 800 g (1.8 lb)

Life Stages

Infant (< 1 year old)

• Care

  • All care provided by the mother

  • Hid in dense cover; in dens, caves, under an uprooted tree, or under bank of a river

    • May remain in the den for up to 2 months

• Development

  • Eyes open after c. 8 days

  • Walk after c. 18 days

  • Cubs take meat at about 10 to 11 weeks but continue to suckle until 5 to 6 months

  • Cubs begin to follow mother at c. 6 weeks

Juvenile

• Independence

  • Leave mother c. 1.5 years of age

  • May maintain social bonds until 2 or more years

Adult

• Sexual maturity

  • In females, occurs in females c. 2 to 3 years

  • Males mature at 3-4 years

  • Age and developmental stage judged dental development

    • Adult teeth erupt in the same sequence as other felids

    • Longevity

In managed care

• Live 20-27 years

In the wild

• Unknown

  • c. 11 years, one estimate from observations in Belize