Dioestrous

/daɪˈɛstrəs/ adjective

Definition

Describing animals that have two estrous cycles per year, meaning females are receptive to mating twice annually.

Etymology

From Greek 'di-' (two) combined with 'estrous' from Latin 'oestrus' meaning a period of sexual excitement or heat in female mammals.

Kelly Says

Most wild wolves are monoestrous (one cycle per year), but their domestic dog descendants often became dioestrous through selective breeding—this is why you might need to prevent your dog from breeding twice yearly, a consequence of artificial selection changing their natural cycles.

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