Behavioural repertoire of Glis glis (Rodentia: Gliridae) [Behaviorální repertoir plcha velkého (Glis glis) (Rodentia: Gliridae)]

Viktoria A. Vekhnik

Pages	69–76
DOI	10.2478/lynx-2018-0009
Citation	VEKHNIK, Viktoria A.. Behavioural repertoire of Glis glis (Rodentia: Gliridae) [Behaviorální repertoir plcha velkého (Glis glis) (Rodentia: Gliridae)]. Lynx, new series. Prague: National Museum, 2018, 49(1), 69–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lynx-2018-0009. ISSN 0024-7774 (print), 1804-6460 (online). Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/lns/49-1/behavioural-repertoire-of-glis-glis-rodentia-gliridae-behavioralni-repertoir-plcha-velkeho-glis-glis-rodentia-gliridae

Lynx, new series | 2018/49/1

The behavioural repertoire of the edible dormouse (Glis glis) was investigated in the laboratory using night vision cameras. Analysis was carried out for 106 h 44 min of video records of behaviour. The main forms of behaviour during the active period were comfort, exploratory, feeding, scent marking, defensive and social actions. They were interrupted by sitting still or feeding. Occurrences of biased activity were revealed, in which elements of a concrete behaviour do not have a functional meaning (e.g. grooming). Typical examples of some forms of behaviour are illustrated. In social behaviour, the most common types of encounters characteristic for rodents were presented. From the total number (419) of registered encounters the most frequent were agonistic ones (46.3%), represented by aggressive attacks, avoidances, chasings, bites and fights. Identification encounters (41.1%) were less frequent and of two types: nasal and naso-lateral. Friendly encounters were observed (12.6%) much less often: mainly sitting in contact and allogrooming. This distribution illustrates the territoriality and mainly solitary way of life in this species. The systematization of the characteristic behavioural elements can serve as a methodological basis for experimental ethological studies, including pairings, assessment of the level of stress and the study of behavioural differentiation of closely related species.

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