Injections to pregnant mice produce prenatal stress that affects aggressive behavior in their adult male offspring
Maternal stress could reprogram the developing fetal nervous system. A common target of maternal glucocorticoids is fetal neuro-endocrine axis. In the present study, pregnant mice were exposed to stress by injection and their male offspring were tested for sexual and aggressive behaviors in adult life. Three groups of pregnant mice were exposed to stress by […]
Behavioral responses to emotional challenges in female rats living in a seminatural environment: The role of estrogen receptors
Estrogen receptors (ERs) are involved in sexual as well as non-sexual behaviors. In the present study we assessed the effects of stimuli inducing positive or negative affect on sociosexual, exploratory and fear-related behaviors of female rats housed in groups (4 females, 3 males) in a seminatural environment. Ovariectomized females were treated with oil, 17β‑estradiol benzoate […]
Some Preliminary Evidence of the Social Facilitation of Mounting Behavior in a Juvenile Bull Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
This study recorded sexual behavior within a captive herd of 8 Asian elephants for approximately 230 hr on 50 days over a period of 10 months. The study observed a single adult and a single juvenile bull mounting cows more than 160 times. When the juvenile bull was between 4 years, 2 months and 4 […]
Primary observations on rutting behavior of the captive red goral
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20086.abs The rutting behavior of the red goral (Naemorhedus cranbrooki) was studied at the Breeding Center of Shanghai Zoo from September 16–November 21, 2004. Twenty-three qualitatively distinct behavior patterns was observed. Males showed a more extensive repertoire (18 patterns, 15 carried out only by males) than did females (10 patterns, 6 carried out only […]
Behavioral indices of estrus in a group of captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20053.abs This study investigated behavioral signals of estrus by systematically monitoring the interactions of one male with four female African elephants housed in a naturalistic outdoor enclosure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom over a period of 11 months. We measured changes in five spatial behaviors and 22 tactile-contact behaviors, as well as changes in serum […]
Masturbation in captive Hylobates (gibbons)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430130408.abs Masturbation was observed in 9 of 52 captive adult Hylobates (gibbons) over a period of 17 years at the International Center for Gibbon Studies (ICGS). Four females and 5 males masturbated with varying degrees of regularity. The behavior may be related to a disruption in early rearing experiences of Hylobates. This is the […]
A possible role of habituation in the sexual behaviour of male mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis Baird & Girard)
Reproduction of the Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus) in captivity
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110403.abs The reproductive behavior and development of 3 wild-caught and 2 captive-born dholes (Cuon alpinus) was observed at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park during 4 successive mating seasons. Courtship was characterized by frequent urine marking and vocalizing by both sexes, by olfactory inspection of marked spots and of partners’ genitalia, and by the female’s […]
The effects of temporary cover on the behavior of socially housed stumptailed macaques (Macaca arctoides)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430100605.abs To examine the effects of the provision of temporary cover on the behavior of stumptailed macaques (Macaca arctoides), a single group of 26 animals was observed during 25 testing periods over 7.5 months. During each testing period, the group was observed under two conditions. In the Cover condition, two solid temporary walls 9.6 […]
Sociosexual behavior of captive sichuan golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430100411.abs The Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana, is an endangered Colobine endemic to China. The social and reproductive behavior of this species are little known, and it has rarely been kept in captivity outside China. Results from observations of a captive golden monkey pair revealed some unusual details of sociosexual behavior. Both members […]