Animal Behavior

The way animals act, including how they find food, communicate, and live together.

What is it?

Animal behavior is everything animals do. It includes how they hunt, play, mate, and raise their young. The Elegant Crested Tinamou shows interesting breeding behavior: the male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks alone. This is unusual among birds. The dwarf mongoose shows social behavior: they live in groups, work together to find food, and have a leader. The Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula shows defensive behavior: it flicks urticating hairs at attackers. The cactus longhorn beetle shows feeding behavior: it eats cactus flesh and decaying matter. The Rhinoceros Hornbill shows unique nesting behavior: the female seals herself inside a tree hole. Pelicans show cooperative feeding behavior: they work together to herd fish. The superb starling shows nesting behavior: it builds dome-shaped nests in thorny bushes or trees, and both parents care for the chicks. It also shows vocal behavior: it mimics the calls of other birds, which may help it communicate. The Southern Cantil shows a fascinating hunting behavior called caudal luring: young snakes wiggle their green or yellow tail tips to attract frogs and lizards.

Why it matters

Studying animal behavior helps us understand how animals survive and interact with their environment. It also teaches us about evolution and adaptation.

Where you've seen it

This list grows as you capture more exhibits about animal behavior.

动物行为

动物的行为方式，包括它们如何寻找食物、交流和共同生活。

这是什么？

动物行为是动物所做的一切。包括它们如何捕猎、玩耍、交配和养育后代。华丽凤冠雉展示了有趣的繁殖行为：雄性单独孵蛋并抚养雏鸟。这在鸟类中不常见。矮獴展示社会行为：它们群居，共同寻找食物，并有首领。巴西粉红食鸟蛛展示防御行为：它向攻击者弹射螫毛。仙人掌长角甲虫展示取食行为：它吃仙人掌肉和腐烂物质。犀鸟展示独特的筑巢行为：雌鸟将自己封闭在树洞里。鹈鹕展示合作捕食行为：它们一起驱赶鱼群。超级椋鸟展示筑巢行为：它在多刺的灌木或树上建造圆顶巢，双亲照顾雏鸟。它还展示发声行为：模仿其他鸟类的叫声，这可能有助于交流。南方坎蒂尔蛇展示了一种迷人的捕食行为，称为尾部诱饵：幼蛇摇动其绿色或黄色的尾巴尖端来吸引青蛙和蜥蜴。