Exploring the behavioral reactions to a mirror in the nocturnal grey mouse lemur: sex differences in avoidance.

ABSTRACT: Most mirror-image stimulation studies (MIS) have been conducted on social and diurnal animals in order to explore self-recognition, social responses, and personality traits. Small, nocturnal mammals are difficult to study in the wild and are under-represented in experimental behavioral studies. In this pilot study, we explored the behavioral reaction of a small nocturnal solitary forager-the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)-an emergent animal model in captivity. We assessed whether MIS can be used to detect a repeatable behavioral reaction, whether individuals will present a similar reaction toward a conspecific and the mirror, and whether males and females respond similarly. We tested 12 individuals (six males and six females) twice in three different contexts: with a mirror,

SUBMITTER: Zablocki-Thomas PB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8126259 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature