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The Ontogeny of Social Behaviour in Four Conilurine Rodents (Muridae) of Australia
Author(s) -
Happold Meredith
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
zeitschrift für tierpsychologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0044-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1976.tb00937.x
Subject(s) - ontogeny , agonistic behaviour , biology , zoology , weaning , muridae , social behaviour , sexual maturity , developmental psychology , psychology , aggression , ecology , genetics
This paper describes the ontogeny of social behaviour in 4 closely related rodents from diverse habitats. These rodents, Notomys alexis, Pseudomys albocinereus, P. shortridgei and P. desertor exemplify 4 different social organizations. The young were observed daily under semi‐natural conditions until weaning, and subsequently at intervals of one week until sexual maturity. Relationships between the young and their families were determined from the relative frequencies of attracting (amicable) and repelling (agonistic) behaviour. The social behaviour of the young is correlated with the social behaviour of adults. Social interactions experienced from birth throughout sub‐adulthood appear to prepare these species for their adult social life.