'We show that interactions between meerkat groups are never tolerant,' researcher Mark Dyble said.
"We show that interactions between meerkat groups are never tolerant, that the majority involve some form of aggression and that a minority result in physical violence," Dyble said in a statement., the researchers observed 10 meerkat groups containing an average of around 20 individuals. When these groups met, the team identified various combinations of six different behaviors in the 422 interactions that they recorded—which usually lasted around 20 minutes.
The different types of behaviors that the team documented when meerkat groups interact were: initial observation of the rival group, chasing the rival group, performing a war dance, retreating from the interaction, excavating the burrow of the rival group and engaging in aggressive physical contact. Eighty-six percent of the interactions ended with one of the two groups retreating before a physical fight occurred. But 9 percent of these interactions ended in violent fights in which at least one meerkat was killed."Most [fights] end after one group chases the other away," Dyble said."There is a clear group size advantage—larger groups almost always win. Most aggression is initiated by the 'dominant' male and female.
Meerkats live in highly social groups—usually containing about 20 members—which are dominated by an alpha male and female who produce more than 80 percent of the offspring in the clan. The rest of the group helps to care for these offspring. But when subordinate female meerkats try to breed, their babies are often killed by the dominant female, or they are evicted from the group.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova enjoys pre-Christmas holiday with adorable daughter MilaStrictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova has jetted off to Venice to enjoy a pre-Christmas holiday with her daughter Mila after being linked to celebrity partner David James...
Leer más »
Trump calls Democrats 'deranged,' 'spiteful' in angry letter to Pelosi over impeachmentDonald Trump fired off a fiery, six-page letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ahead of an expected impeachment vote, describing that effort as “war on American democracy.”
Leer más »
'I'm 92% terrified': Director J.J. Abrams unveils 'Star Wars': The Rise of Skywalker'The fear is understandable as the stakes are high. 'Rise of Skywalker' not only ends the current trilogy Abrams started with 2015's 'The Force Awakens,' but also the nine-episode Skywalker saga George Lucas started in 1977.
Leer más »
Euro Thriller ‘A Perfect Enemy’ With ‘Cold War’ Star Tomasz Kot Adds Dominique Pinon & Marta Nieto As Cameras RollShoot is underway on Euro co-production thriller A Perfect Enemy starring Tomasz Kot (Cold War), Athena Strates (The Good Liar), Marta Nieto (Madre) and Dominique Pinon (Delicatessen). The film fol…
Leer más »