Rapid establishment of teat order and allonursing in wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Transfer of milk is the fundamental common characteristic of mammalian reproduction, but species differ considerably with respect to nursing strategies. The consequences of teat orders and allonursing have been studied intensively in domestic pigs. However, whether similar nursing strategies also exist in wild boar, the ancestor of domestic pigs is so far not known. The occurrence of allonursing in wild boar is only described anecdotally, and the question whether a teat order is established has not yet been investigated. Studying suckling behaviour of 29 piglets from six primiparous wild boar females in a semi‐natural environment we found a surprisingly fast development of a rigid teat order among littermates, which established within 2.2 hr after birth. This suggests strong fitness benefits of this phenomenon that may ultimately explain the evolution and maintenance of this trait. We further found a strong synchrony of oestrus and delivery among the females of a group, as well as the occurrence of allonursing. By determining the amount of allonursing for the first time quantitatively, we demonstrate the importance of this trait and its presumably pivotal role for juvenile survival under truly natural conditions

Spatial structure and activity in groups of Mediterranean mouflon (Ovis gmelini): a comparative study

International audienc

Inter-individual associations and social structure of a mouflon population (Ovis orientalis musimon)

International audienceWe analysed individual associations between mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) observed during one year in order to find ontogenetic patterns underlying the social structure of the population. A correspondence factorial analysis was performed on Simpson's coefficients to compare association profiles. No strong association was found between adults but some of the young adult females maintained a preferential bond with their mother until the age of three. Yearling males were firstly unstable in their social relations and subsequently developed a strong preference for peers (the preferred companion(s) of young adult males were always young adult males). Animals did not prefer to associate with other individuals of their own family (Wilcoxon test: n = 53; z = 0.463; a < 0.01). Localized abundant food sources caused large regroupings during spring. This was the only case where we noted a series of observations where the same unrelated animals were seen together. With the exception of the mother-offspring relationship, individual social preferences were based on the sex and age of the partner rather than on identity. The existence of social behaviour profiles dependent on sex and age is proposed to explain the above results