What Is Animal Behavior?

What Is Animal Behavior? — page 1 — Humans have always been fascinated by how animals behave In the past people survived by closely observing animal behavior Our ancestors had to defend themselves against wild creatures and capture them for food Today most people see wild animals in zoos more often than in nature INSTINCT AND LIFE LESSONS Humans and chimpanzees share many similar behaviors 4

What Is Animal Behavior? — page 2 — Scientists observe animals both in the wild and in laboratories Scientists study two kinds of behavior in animals instinctive and learned Instinctive behavior is something an animal is born knowing how to do For example from birth baby spiders know how to build a web Other behaviors must be learned Cheetah cubs learn to hunt by watching their mother catch prey Learned behaviors can change over time In this way a species adapts to changes in its environment A species is a certain type or kind of animal or plant Animals of the same species share many of the same behaviors 5

What Is Animal Behavior? — page 3 — Over time our ancestors developed systems of spoken and written language But we also show other people how we feel without using words One look at your friend’s face will tell you if she is sad or mad Other animals communicate with sounds as well as with body postures changing skin colors and even scents A hive of honeybees signals an alarm by emitting a strong banana-like smell Humpback whales communicate over great distances by singing HOW ANIMALS COMMUNICATE Body postures and facial expressions help humans understand one another 6

What Is Animal Behavior? — page 4 — complex songs Methods of communication are an important form of social behavior in animals Group members may share information about where food can be found One coyote may expose his belly to another to prove he is not a threat Scientists still have much to learn about how many creatures communicate with one another A happy dog wags its tail but a cat will lash its tail to show anger How else do animals use their tails to communicate THINK ABOUT IT Humpback whales can communicate with each other over thousands of miles 7

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