The term ‘gestation period’ refers to the time span it takes for a fetus to develop inside its mother’s womb, beginning with fertilization and ending at birth. In the case of animals, the duration of a gestartion period varies between species, although in general, the smaller the animal, the less time it spends in the womb.
Gestation period however, can also be influenced by other factors such as the size of a litter. This article will outline the top 10 animals with the shortest gestation periods. You can find the top 10 animals with the longest gestation period here.
10. Squirrel (gray) (35 days)
9. Chipmunk (31 days)
8. Rabbit (domestic) (31 days)
7. Muskrat (29 days)
6. Wombat (27 days)
5. Gerbil (24 days)
4. Rat (22 days)
3. Hamster (20 days)
2. Mouse (19 days)
1. Virginia opossum (12 days)
