Table 2 Behavioral patterns used to assess individual behavioral differences in the dimensions of aggressiveness, exploration, and sociability in white-lipped peccaries (N = 17).
Behavioral dimension | Behavioral pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|
Aggressiveness | Threatening | With a short distance (~ 1.0 m) between dyads, the individual quickly moves towards another animal, mouth open and canines exposed. |
Pushing | One animal pushes the other with its head or the side of its body, pushing the opponent away. | |
Chasing | The individual runs towards another, running regardless of the distance. | |
Attacking | One animal attacks another aggressively (vocalizing, canines exposed and dorsal hair bristling), pushing the opponent with its head, exhaling air through its nostrils and then biting the attacked animal. | |
Exploration | Foraging | The animal moves slowly around its environment with its head lowered and its snout close to the ground, apparently looking for food. |
Investigating the ground | A stationary animal, standing with its head lowered, actively moves its snout, digging or sniffing the ground in the absence of food. | |
Sociability | Mutual rubbing | Two animals stand sideways in opposite directions and rub each other with the side of their bodies using their dorsal glands. |
Social grooming | One animal rubs the other’s body with its snout, using its tongue and chewing. | |
Olfactory investigation | One individual brings his snout close to another and sniffs him in various areas of his body. |
