IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Antonevich, A.L.; Naidenko, S.; Bergara, J.; V zquez, E.; V zquez, A.; L¢pez, J.; Pardo, A.; Rivas, A.; Mart¡nez, F.; Vargas, A. | |
| A comparative note on early sibling aggression in two related species: the Iberian and the Eurasian lynx | |
| 2009 Book Chapter | |
Early sibling fights in Eurasian and Iberian lynxes differ from other types of behavior in a lack of ritualized elements (threats) and a high motivation level. In 2005 sudden aggression, which ended up in siblicide, took place in the first Iberian lynx litter born in captivity. Fights became a problem, turning into one of the highest risks of mortality for captive born cubs. Fights started spontaneously, without any indication of previous aggression, with a very sudden and fast attack of one of the cubs in the litter. This aggression did not take place while the cubs were nursing or eating, and it did not appear to be caused by any kind of competition. Fights were not the result of an escalation of other social interactions, most times they occurred without any previous interaction (e.g., while one of the cubs was sleeping or just sitting, looking away). Litter size didn't influence fight probability or cub mortality in any of the two species. Age at which fights occurred varied from 36-64 day in Eurasian lynx litters. In naturally raised Iberian lynxes, the appearance of sibling fights was observed during 36-63 days of life. In general, fights occurred between the 6th and 8th week of the cub's life in 90% of the Eurasian cases (18/20), but mostly during the seventh week. In Iberian lynx litters, 77% (10/13) of fights also occurred between the 6th-8th postnatal weeks, being more frequent during the 6th week.Duration of after-fight aggression varied across Iberian lynx litters (median=14; min=1; max=95 days). The aggressive period in Iberian lynx lasted around 63 days (min=45; max=144). The number of attacks was higher in Eurasian than in Iberian lynx fights, but the after-fight aggressive period in Eurasian lynx was much shorter than in the Iberian lynx. Both differences could be caused by either the after-fight husbandry procedures used in the endangered species or by species-specific differences. Although fights occurred between cubs of the same and different genders, body size made a difference. Female cubs were aggressors more often than males in Eurasian lynx and the opposite was true for Iberian lynx litters. Sex ratio of aggressors did not differ from overall sex ratio in lynx litters. In general, the aggressor was larger than the attacked cub. Although several characteristics differ between Eurasian and Iberian lynx fights, this phenomenon is similar in both species, yet it differs from sibling aggression in other taxa. |
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