Reproduction

Females and males both reach sexual maturity at 24 months. Little is known of the Kodkod’s reproductive behavior because of their rarity (Acosta-Jamett et. al 2002). It is believed that males have multiple mates considering their larger home ranges than females. These larger ranges allow the males to come into contact with more than one mate (Dunstone et. al 2002). Gestation is thought to be 72-78 days, and one to four kittens are born. A breeding interval or season has not been determined (Encyclopedia of Life 2012). After birth, it is figured, like other small cats, the females provide the care. They provide lactation for the kittens, and they possibly teach the young to hunt (International Society for Endangered Cats 2013).

 Figure 5. This image is of a kodkod kitten. It can be found at Imgur.

 

The kodkod follows the general animal life cycle. Adult animals are multicellular organisms and their cells are labled as 2n (dipliod). This means that there is a pair of each chromosome in the animal's cells. To produce gametes, the reproductive cells (egg and sperm), specialized cells must go through meiosis. The process of meiosis divides the 2n cell in half so it becomes n (hapliod). This means that each chromosome does not have a matching partner. When the organisms mate, the hapoild gamete from the female (egg), and the haploid cell from the male (sperm) come together to form a diploid cell. This dipoild cell, now called a zygote, is able to divide and grow by mitosis. Mitosis allows the cells to divide, but keep their diploid structure. The cells will continue to go through mitosis until a viable kitten is born (Brooker 2012).

 

                                                                               Figure 6. This is an image of a general animal life cycle. It shows
                                                                              the process of zygote formation. It can be found at Biology 1.

 

 

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