Behavioural development of the gardendormouse, Eliomys quercinus L. : II) an open-field study

In order to study the behavioural development of the gardendormouse the open-field method was used. Each young dormouse was tested for 3 minutes every day. Locomotion, urination, defecation and vocalizations were recorded and quantified. The tests were made from birth to the 30 th day of life. The locomotory activity increased progressively and reached a maximum on the 28th day. From birth to the 18th day of life the number of whistles emitted by the young dormice increased as the locomotory activity did. After the 18th day the number of the whistles decreased quickly. Then a negative correlation was observed between the number of whistles and the locomotion, the urination and the defecation activities. The results are discussed with reference to other developmental aspects of the gardendormouse.