264 TELFORD: MULTIMAMMATE RAT POPULATION BIOLOGY IN TANZANIA




TABLE 1. Variation in litter size compared with size of gravid female Praomys natalensis.


 Female HBL Mean no. embryos Range
 (mm)  1 SE (N)


 < 95 10.5 2.5 (2) 8-13
 95-99 9.3 1.5 (3) 7-12
 100-104 9.60.9 (13)* 6-17
 105-109 11.00.6 (25) 6-17
 110-114 11.30.4 (53)* 5-19
 115-119 11.60.3 (77)** 3-20
 120-124 12.0 0.3 (85) 7-23
 125-129 12.60.4) (65)** 7-21
 > 129 11.80.3 (104)** 4-18
 total sample 11.70.1 (427) 3-23


*, ** indicate comparisons of means, each significant at P < 0.05






TABLE 2. Annual variation in mean litter size correlated with head-body length of gravid
Praomys natalensis.


 Mean no. embryos
 +1 SE (N)

Female HBL
 (mm) 1982 1983 1984


110-114 10.90.8 (18) 11.10.8 (13) 11.70.7 (20)
115-119 10.6-0.7 (22)* 12.70.7 (23) 11.50.4 (32)
120-124 11.90.5 (25) 12.110.7 (28) 11.9+0.5 (31)
125-129 13.50.9 (16) 12.8 0.7 (20) 12.0 0.5 (27)
> 129 13.5 1.0 (8) 11.70.5 (39) 12.00.4 (54)


* P < 0.05