Module 15 - Animal behaviour

Question 1

What is the social structure of Baboons, Zebras and Klipspringers?

Answer 1

Baboons: Oligarchy;
Zebras: Harem;
Klipspringers: Pair bond (monogamous);

Question 2

Explain the Flehmen grimace.

Answer 2

The Flehmen grimace is an example of a facial ‘expression’ in mammals. It is usually performed by males in a reaction to the urine of female, or during ritualised male interactions when there are female nearby that are ready to mate. In this process the urine is “tested” for pheromones.

Question 3

What are two differences between Homerange and Territory?

Answer 3

Territory

1. Has well defined boundaries
2. Is actively defended and demarcated
3. Main purpose is reproduction
4. Can be next to another territory but they never overlap
5. Is always smaller than the home range

Homerange

1. Do not have defined boundaries
2. Is neither defended nor demarcated
3. Main purpose is survival
4. Can overlap to other home-ranges
5. Is always larger than the territory

Question 4

What is Thanatosis? Please give an example.

Answer 4

Death-Feigning is pretending to be dead when attacked by an animal.
Examples are Rinkhals and chameleons.

Question 5

Name two reasons why animals do alarm calling.

Answer 5

1. To protect and warn other individuals; 


2. Let the predator know the calling animal is already warned (anti-predator behaviour).

Question 6

What does it mean when elephants put their trunks in each others mouths?

Answer 6

This is a submissive behaviour. A less dominant elephant put its trunk the mouth of a dominant individual.

Question 7

Vocal communication

Answer 7

• Roaring, snorting through the nose, wing- or leg-rubbing, rattling of quills, thumping of
  the feet, rasping of their horns, vibrations (Infra sound communication in elephants),
  ultrasound (bats);
• Offers many advantages: can be changed quickly, can abruptly turned on and off, can
  be transmitted over great distances;
• Is used to indicate territories, as alarm calls, to attract mates, to keep in contact with
  group members, between mothers and their offspring, warn potential predators;
• Some animal species uses a huge variety of different calls for communication or to warn
  individuals (different calls, each indicates a different type of predator), e. g. squirrel,
  vervet monkey, dwarf mongoose, jackal.

Question 8

Visual communication

Answer 8

• Facial expressions display anger, fear, submission or dominance;
• Color signals to attract males, show mating readiness, as warning signals, follow me
  signs or for protection.

Question 9

Olfactory communication (smell

Answer 9

• Large cats spray marking their territory with urine;
• Hyaenas mark their territories with anal gland secretions, urine and droppings;
• Most ungulates have glands in front of their eyes, secretions from these are wiped onto
  vegetation;
• Many mammals have glands on their feed and legs which leave a scent in the soil and on the vegetation as they walk;
• Faeces middens are used by many animals.