ANATOMICAL PARTICULARITIES OF THE MAMMARY GLAND OF THE FEMALE GRASSCUTTER (THRYONOMYS SWINDERIANUS, TEMMINCK, 1782)

The objective of this study was to characterize the mammary apparatus of the female grasscutter (also known as the aulacode), Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1782), through a topographical description of the mammary anatomy of five adult, farm-raised females with an average live weight of 3.5 kg. Examination of the mammary gland revealed anatomical features that are broadly comparable to those observed in other rodent species and even in lagomorphs; however, several specific features were observed in this species. The mammary chain consists of three pairs of mammae distributed along the pectoral, thoracic, and abdominal regions. The mammary papillae are relatively short but noticeably broader than those of commonly described domestic rodents. Subcutaneously, the three mammary glands on each side are fused into a thick band of mammary parenchyma extending longitudinally from the pectoral to the inguinal region. This structural configuration represents a distinctive characteristic of the species when compared with domestic rodents and lagomorphs that exhibit similar litter sizes. The biomorphometric features described here are likely to influence maternal behaviour in captive female grasscutters and should support improved anatomophysiological management of reproduction in this characteristically African rodent.