Stotting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stotting is a behavior of gazelles, particularly Thomson's Gazelles, involving leaping straight up during pursuit by a predator, typically a cheetah or lion. This reduces the lead distance and speed of the pursued gazelle when performed, and as such increases the risk of being caught and killed by the predator. This apparently counterproductive behavior may signal to the predator or potential mates its comparative fitness as a form of boasting or taunting, and so therefore may be an evolutionarily selected behavior. This is offered by adherents of the handicap principle as a prime example.
[edit] References
- FitzGibbon, C. D., and Fanshawe, J. H., (1988), Stotting in Thomson's gazelles: an honest signal of condition. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Volume 23, Number 2 / August, pages 69–74.
 |
This article about a mammal is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
