新生子は赤子で生まれ、目も耳も閉じた状態です。2~3日齢で毛が生え始め、開眼は10日齢くらいからです。絶対に赤子には触れないで下さい。触ると人の匂いがついて、母親が育子放棄をすることがあります。野生でのコテリー内での他のメスの子も共同して保育をするのかは分かっていません〔Chance et al.1976〕。少量ずつ餌を自ら摂り始めますが、消化機能が完全に発達するのは5週齢以降で、完全な離乳は6週齢以降が理想です。子が6週齢までは地下巢で過ごし、その後に巢穴か出て活動します〔Pilny et al.2004〕 。乳頭は4対(8個)あります。
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