Abstract
Eight mated pairs of adult spiny mice (eight males, eight females) with their litters were observed from the day before birth through Day 10 postpartum. Parent-offspring interactions in the form of the amount of time each parent spent in physical contact with its offspring were recorded. Parental interactions were also recorded by measuring (1) the amount of time the dam and sire were in physical contact, (2) their activity levels, and (3) the percentage of times the dam led and followed the sire through the home environment. Each mated pair reared its litter inside a four-compartment habitat enclosure. Observations took place on the day before birth (Day 0) and on Days 1, 5, and 10 postpartum, were recorded on videotape, and were later coded in 1-h samples using a TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer. The primary findings were that (1) adult activity levels peaked on Day 1, (2) sires accumulated significantly more contact time with offspring than did dams, and (3) dams tended to follow sires during movement sequences significantly more often than they led sires. Limited developmental trends were observed in parental and parent-offspring interactions as a function of the postpartum age of the litter. These data further define the parental role of sires in Acomys and document their contribution to social cohesiveness and mutual attachment among family members.
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We thank Burnell Hartzell for his work in maintaining the research animals used in this study, and Donna MacKerell for assistance in preparation of the manuscript.
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Szijarto, K., Coffee, R.J., Boyle, C. et al. Postpartum social interactions in families of spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) observed in a laboratory environment. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 23, 253–255 (1985). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329841
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329841