The acquisition of subterranean habits in tuco tucos (Rodentia, Octodontidae): role of social transmision

VASSALLO AI

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

Allen Press

Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2006 vol. 87 p. 939 - 943

0022-2372

A test was conducted to investigate if mother–infant social transmission plays a role in the acquisition of subterranean habits in the rodent Ctenomys talarum. Thirteen infants were reared by their mother in an experimental aboveground habitat that precluded burrow construction. At the age of natal dispersal, young wereallowed to dig in the soil typically inhabited by the species. All experimental tuco-tucos engaged in burrowingactivities after short latencies (51 s 6 35 SD). Aboveground excursions lasted a few seconds and covered shortdistances, and there were no significant differences between experimental and control wild tuco-tucos. Thestructure of the burrows constructed by experimental tuco-tucos did not substantially differ from those typical forthe species. It is concluded that vertical social transmission is not essential for the development of subterraneanhabits in C. talarum. The results are discussed regarding growing evidence on social transmission and its allegedrole during evolution