Nurturant behavior toward dead conspecifics in free-ranging mammals: new records for odontocetes and a general review

Reggente, M.; Alves, Filipe; Nicolau, Cátia; Freitas, Luís; Cagnazzi, Daniele; Baird, Robin W.; Galli, Paolo

doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw089

Cited by 56 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Nurturant behaviour has been observed towards both live and dead calves (reviewed by Reggente et al, 2016). The most commonly observed nurturant behaviour is the mother's habit of holding her calf at the surface, supposedly to aid it in breathing (Siebenaler & Caldwell, 1956).…”

Section: (C) Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

The comparative study of empathy: sympathetic concern and empathic perspective‐taking in non‐human animals

Pérez-Manrique

Gomila

2017

Biological Reviews

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While empathy is a century-old psychological concept, its study in non-human animals has become the focus of much recent scientific interest, as it promises to provide the clues to understand the evolutionary origins of our social and moral nature. A review of the comparative study of empathy is thus timely to complement and constrain anthropocentric views, and to integrate current findings. However, this is not an easy task. The study of animal empathy has developed using different paradigms, different concepts of the phenomena involved, and the absence of a systematic program. Herein, we carry out a comprehensive review of the literature on complex forms of empathy in non-human animals: sympathetic concern and empathic perspective-taking. In particular, we focus on consolation and targeted helping, as the best examples of each category. In so doing, we try to shed light on the current debate concerning whether these phenomena are exclusively human traits. First, we try to clarify the terminology and taxonomy of forms of empathy, providing operative criteria for these phenomena that are applicable to both human and non-human animals. Second, we discuss whether the available evidence qualifies such behaviour as empathic. Third, we aim to provide an integrative view of the field, clarifying the challenges and conditions to satisfy. We also hope to highlight the importance of the study of these processes for elucidating the evolutionary history of this capacity across the animal kingdom.

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Section: (C) Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

The comparative study of empathy: sympathetic concern and empathic perspective‐taking in non‐human animals

Pérez-Manrique

Gomila

2017

Biological Reviews

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“…Among chimpanzees, behavioral responses seem to vary among individuals and groups and may include dragging, shaking, and beating the dead body with disappointment (Stewart et al., ). Dolphins also come back to dead members of their groups, swimming in circles under the carcass, touching it, and remaining in vertical positions, among other reactions (Reggente et al., ). These species are considered exceptions among the mammals, which normally do not show much reaction in the dead bodies of other individuals of their species (McComb, Baker, & Moss, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…reactions (Reggente et al, 2016). These species are considered exceptions among the mammals, which normally do not show much reaction in the dead bodies of other individuals of their species (McComb, Baker, & Moss, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) behavioral reactions toward a dead member of the herd

Kort¹,

Altrichter

Cortez³

et al. 2017

Ethology

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Humans, elephants, chimpanzees, and cetaceans show concern with the death of other members of their species and respond to death in particular ways. Science considers that these species are exceptions and that other mammal species show little or no reaction to the dead bodies of individuals of their species. Collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu; Tayassuidae) are social animals that live in groups of 5–50 individuals maintaining close and complex social relationships. The collared peccary occupies many different environments and it is widely distributed from the south of North America to the north of Argentina. Their behavior is well studied, but we know little about their behavior toward the dead. We directly observed and filmed with a camera trap the reactions of a five‐member herd of collared peccaries to the death of a herd member. We worked on a suburban forested area in the mountains of central Arizona. We found that the herd visited and spent time with the dead body for 10 days after the peccary died. The frequency of the visits declined until the cadaver was consumed by coyotes. Most of the videos showed two individuals visited the dead animal (44%), solitary records were also frequent (39%) and only 4% of the videos recorded three peccaries. Visits were more frequent during the night (64%). Peccaries do react to the death of a herd member by behaving in particular ways. Reactions include pushing at the dead individual, staring at it, biting it, and trying to pick it up by putting their snout under the corpse and pushing it up, and defending it from coyotes, among others. These levels of behavioral complexity for peccaries are beyond those known so far. The behaviors of this herd of peccaries resemble those of humans, cetaceans, chimpanzees, and elephants and show that these groups are not the only ones that react to death.

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“…Bearzi, Eddy, Piwetz, Reggente, & Cozzi, ; Reggente et al, ). Species displaying these behaviours include giraffes (Bercovitch, ; Strauss & Muller, ), elephants (Douglas‐Hamilton, Bhalla, Wittemyer, & Vollrath, ), nonhuman primates (Cronin, Leeuwen, Mulenga, & Bodamer, ; Fashing et al, ; Yang, Anderson, & Li, ), and cetaceans (close relatives to hippos, Reggente et al, ), and reports commonly relate to a female interacting with the carcass of a juvenile. There are photographs/videos showing hippos interacting with hippo carcasses (Breen, ; Harris, ; Hippo keeps crocs from dead juvenile, ; Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), ; ViralHog, ) and defending carcasses from other animals (Csaba, ; Harris, ; Hippo keeps crocs from dead juvenile, ); providing anecdotal evidence that hippos may also display epimeletic behaviour towards dead conspecifics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Records of mammals interacting with dead conspecifics in an epimeletic manner (maintaining physical contact, moving/carrying, and protecting carcasses) are increasing (e.g. Bearzi, Eddy, Piwetz, Reggente, & Cozzi, ; Reggente et al, ). Species displaying these behaviours include giraffes (Bercovitch, ; Strauss & Muller, ), elephants (Douglas‐Hamilton, Bhalla, Wittemyer, & Vollrath, ), nonhuman primates (Cronin, Leeuwen, Mulenga, & Bodamer, ; Fashing et al, ; Yang, Anderson, & Li, ), and cetaceans (close relatives to hippos, Reggente et al, ), and reports commonly relate to a female interacting with the carcass of a juvenile.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations on the response of a pod of hippos to a dead juvenile hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius, Linnaeus 1758)

Inman

Leggett

2019

Afr J Ecol

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Nurturant behavior toward dead conspecifics in free-ranging mammals: new records for odontocetes and a general review

Cited by 56 publications

References 36 publications

The comparative study of empathy: sympathetic concern and empathic perspective‐taking in non‐human animals

The comparative study of empathy: sympathetic concern and empathic perspective‐taking in non‐human animals

Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) behavioral reactions toward a dead member of the herd

Observations on the response of a pod of hippos to a dead juvenile hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius, Linnaeus 1758)

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