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Conspecific aggression in the laboratory rat.

R J Blanchard, K Fukunaga, D C Blanchard

    Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology
    |December 1, 1975
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Dominant male domesticated rats exhibit aggressive behaviors, including biting, towards unfamiliar conspecifics. These attacks can be lethal, with most injuries concentrated on the head and upper back.

    Area of Science:

    • Ethology
    • Animal Behavior
    • Mammalian Aggression

    Background:

    • Dominant male rodents often display aggression towards intruders.
    • Understanding aggression in domesticated species is crucial for welfare and research.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the nature and severity of attacks by dominant male domesticated rats on conspecific strangers.
    • To determine the distribution of bite lesions and the lethality of these aggressive encounters.

    Main Methods:

    • Introduction of unfamiliar male rats (strangers) into established colonies of dominant male domesticated rats.
    • Observation of threat displays and biting attacks.
    • Analysis of lesion distribution on attacked rats (anesthetized vs. unanesthetized).
    • Monitoring survival rates of introduced strangers over several days.

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    Main Results:

    • Dominant males engaged in both threat displays and biting attacks on strangers.
    • Bites were nonrandomly distributed, primarily affecting the head and upper back.
    • 66% of introduced strangers were killed, indicating lethal aggression without external provocation.

    Conclusions:

    • Domesticated rats exhibit significant intraspecific aggression, including lethal attacks.
    • Aggression patterns suggest specific targeting, with head and upper back being vulnerable areas.
    • These findings highlight the potential for severe harm in social encounters within this domesticated strain.