Final answer:
Intermittent mating of hamsters best fits the description of mating occurring at irregular intervals, unlike species with seasonal or cycle-specific mating times.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intermittent mating of hamsters is best described by the option C) Mating occurs at irregular intervals. Unlike some species that mate seasonally or have cycles linked to specific times of the year, hamsters do not follow a strict mating schedule. Intermittent mating means that hamsters can mate at various and non-regular times. This irregularity can be contrasted with animals such as the pronghorn antelope which mates during specific seasons given their seasonal estrus cycle.
In biology, mating behaviors can vary widely among species. While some, like certain antelopes, have seasonally timed mating periods, others, such as primates, have reproductive patterns that allow for mating outside of a strictly defined season or cycle. The concept of iteroparity, which refers to species that have multiple reproductive episodes throughout their lifetime, also relates to how and when mating occurs.