Infanticide in Prairie Dogs: Lactating Females Kill Offspring of Close Kin
Hoogland JL. 1985. Infanticide in Prairie Dogs: Lactating Females Kill Offspring of Close Kin. Science. 230(4729):1037-1040
Infanticide, although common in a wide range of species including humans and other primates, is poorly understood. A 7-year study under natural conditions reveals that infanticide within colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) is striking for three reasons. It is the major source of juvenile mortality, accouting for the total or partial demise of 51 percent of litters born. The most common killers are resident lactating females. The most common victims are the offspring of close kin.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Hoogland, John
- Units
- WICA
- Keywords
- Animal Behavior, Animal Studies, Animals, Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicians), Burrows, Colony, coterie, emigrants, Herbivores, infantcide, lactation, Litter, Mammal Behavior, Mammals, marauding, Mortality, Photographs, Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), Rodents (Rodentia), Social Behavior, Sociobiology, Vigilance, Zoology