Striped mouse

Striped mouse

Striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) on the cover of the August edition of Behaviour

Striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) on the cover of the August edition of Behaviour
My photo and the accompanying paper (see List of publications) were published in this issue.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Summary: Melichar & Robovský (2012)

Melichar & Robovský (2012) observed a novel defence group formation in captive golden takin Budorcas bedfordi, an ungulate that shares common features with the muskox Ovibos moschatus. A single day of occurrence of this behaviour was recorded in response to enclosure sharing with Chinese muntjacs Muntiacus reevesi. The formation was similar to that observed in wild muskox and rotated according to individual muntjac movement within the enclosure. The takin also emitted loud vocalisations and made several lunge attempts towards the muntjacs, although no direct contact was observed. This behaviour was exhibited multiple times on one day, but was not observed thereafter. Muntjacs actively avoided takin during this period, whereafter they entered the takin enclosure with limited interference. The takin thereafter ignored the muntjacs, although occasionally snorting was observed. Melichar & Robovský (2012) suggest that this behaviour has not be observed in wild takin. Due to its phylogenetic relationship with muskox, it is likely either that this behaviour evolved independently in the two groups, or occurred in a distant caprine ancestor.

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