Communication Systems and Organizational Systems in Three Species of Rodents

Abstract

Studies of intraspecific agonistic encounters between individuals of Cavia porcellus, Reithrodontoinys inegalotis, and Meriones unguiculotus have shown that the number and complexity of acoustical and visual signals is correlated with the complexity of the organizational system of the species involved. The signals as observed are listed and compared. The greatest number of signals is used by the more complexly organized Cavia, the least by the apparently unorganized Meriones. Relatively complex signals can develop in groups regardless of the primary sensory apparatus utilized.