Some aspects of maternal behaviour in mammals

Lactation is the one common factor in the behaviour patterns of maternal care in mammals. A series of behaviour patterns is elicited by the different stages of the developing young and these are related to the way of life of the animals concerned. Infants which are born naked, blind and helpless elicit retrieving and nest building and are cleaned and cared for by the female. Older animals or those born with fur, but with poor locomotion, are still carried and cleaned. When the young can move well other behaviour patterns which keep the young and mother together are important, so signals for communication and recognition of individuals develop. At the end of lactation various behaviour patterns bring about weaning. Sometimes this is the result of dispersal by the young, and sometimes the young are actively rejected or deliberately abandoned. Several examples of maternal behaviour are given in relation to the classes of mammals and some related problems are discussed.