Different strategies of exploration and phenotypic variability of the locomotor behavior in new environment: Comparative study of the laboratory opossum (Monodelphis domestica) and Wistar rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Abstract excerpt

Spontaneous locomotor activity of opossums and Wistar rats during a two-hour session in the open field has been recorded, assessed and behavior of individuals of the two species compared. Afterwards, groups of highly active (HA) and low active (LA) opossums and rats were selected on the basis of the distance traveled in the test. Differences between the selected groups were evaluated. Opossums were generally more...

Topics

• Adaptation, Physiological
• Animals
• Environment
• Exploratory Behavior
• Female
• Locomotion
• Male
• Opossums
• Phenotype
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Spatial Behavior
• Species Specificity
• Time Factors