Behaviour and social organization in a colony of the Damaraland mole-rat Cryptomys damarensis |
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Authors: | N C Bennett |
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Institution: | Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa |
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Abstract: | This paper reports qualitative and quantitative behavioural studies of the social mole-rat C. damarensis . The behaviours were subdivided into four major categories: nest, maintenance, interactive and auto-behaviours. Social interactions and behavioural types were analysed by sex, age category and caste. The nest area is a focal point in the burrow system with individuals spending more than 70% of the day there. Many of the interactive behaviours occurred there and the mole-rats showed definite preferences with regard to which individuals they rested next to or avoided. The Damaraland mole-rat colonies show some division of labour, into frequent and infrequent worker groups; these castes differed significantly in the amount of both digging and soil movement undertaken. |
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