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Behavioural changes in the African giant rat ( Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse) under domestication
Author(s) -
AJAYI S. S.,
TEWE O. O.,
FATUROTI E. O.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00434.x
Subject(s) - captivity , cannibalism , domestication , zoology , biology , first generation , rodent , agonistic behaviour , ecology , demography , predation , psychology , sociology , developmental psychology , population , aggression
Summary A gradient of behavioural patterns was observed among the wild and the first four generations of the African giant rat. Escape reactions and agonistic behaviour were completely lost as from the second generation. Wild rats were easily tamed and those born in captivity were very social. However, being a burrowing rodent, preferring a cool environment in nature, they had a low tolerance to heat. Cannibalism was an important management problem which persisted to the fourth generation resulting in the mortality of 40% of the newly born. From the fifth generation onwards, rats became completely tame and docile. Cannibalism was reduced to less than 10% of the newly born at the fifteenth generation. At this stage, for all practical purposes the giant rat can be regarded as a domestic animal.