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Anting and the problem of self‐stimulation
Author(s) -
Simmons K. E. L.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1966.tb03890.x
Subject(s) - plumage , passerine , biology , feather , variety (cybernetics) , zoology , ecology , evolutionary biology , communication , artificial intelligence , computer science , psychology
Anting behaviour has been claimed for mammals but the evidence suggests that, in its characteristic forms, it is confined to birds and, in particular, to passerine birds. True anting consists of highly stereotyped movements whereby the birds apply ants to their feathers or expose their plumage to the ants. A variety of other, mainly pungent substances have also been recorded as being used (anting with substitutes).