Begging behavior
When begging behavior or just begging is called in the behavioral biology behavior by a social partners (often a parent) is to be moved for the transfer of an object, usually, these are for food or water. Although begging behavior is mainly observed in young animals, it can also occur in adult animals. adult chimpanzees and other primates offer their conspecifics for food.
Begging behavior of young birds
Begging behavior can be observed especially in young animals who want to beg food from their parents, e.g. B. in the nest pups of birds (e.g. as a lock; see Fig.) For example, many nest pups raise their heads when begging, block the beak wide open and also make sounds typical of the species . This particular begging behavior is known as blocking . The begging sounds, movements and other parts of the complex behavior are innate and act as a key stimulus on the parents' innate feeding mechanism ( instinct ).
Learned begging
Especially with zoo animals or other animals kept in captivity, begging behavior is learned through rewards . Almost any behavior can be used for begging if it is rewarded by giving out food or the like.
Examples of begging behavior
- Young animals of the ringelastrild raise a wing with the conspicuous white pattern when begging to attract attention.
- Comb-tooth vampires , who were unsuccessful in a nightly prey flight, beg other group members, who then choke up some of the previously sucked blood and thus share the food. This begging is often expressed through grooming.
- Bee lice live in the fur of the bees , especially the queen, and eat the food given to the queen when it is fed; but they also beg the workers directly.
Web links
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d Keyword “Entomophages.” In: Herder-Lexikon der Biologie. Spectrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 2003. ISBN 3-8274-0354-5