Due to their hierarchical social structure, only the primary members of a family group are permitted to breed.
Subordinate offspring are often killed and eaten by the more dominant members of the group.
Sexual maturity is reached between nine months of age to a year old.
Females go into estrus up to nine times a year.
Males initiate and terminate copulation without much courting.
Gestation is approximately eight weeks, and each litter averages 2–4 babies, though they have six mammae.
Females are capable of having three litters per year.
Babies are born about 13 mm (0.5 in) long with their eyes closed, and a thick undercoat of fur.
After about twelve days, they begin to open their eyes and explore their environment.
At around three weeks the mother weans them, their guard hairs begin to grow in, and they actively forage on their own.
They do not grow to adult size until around 6–9 months of age.
The life span of the common kusimanse in captivity is 10 years.
Due to their hierarchical social structure, only the primary members of a family group are permitted to breed. Subordinate offspring are often killed and eaten by the more dominant members of the group. Sexual maturity is reached between nine months of age to a year old. Females go into estrus up to nine times a year. Males initiate and terminate copulation without much courting. Gestation is approximately eight weeks, and each litter averages 2–4 babies, though they have six mammae. Females are capable of having three litters per year. Babies are born about 13 mm (0.5 in) long with their eyes closed, and a thick undercoat of fur. After about twelve days, they begin to open their eyes and explore their environment. At around three weeks the mother weans them, their guard hairs begin to grow in, and they actively forage on their own. They do not grow to adult size until around 6–9 months of age. The life span of the common kusimanse in captivity is 10 years.
Common kusimanse