Fighting patterns in young coyotes: Initiation, escalation, and assessment

摘要: The fighting patterns of young coyotes were studied and 2,350 fights analyzed. Our results can be summarized as follows: 1) No major injuries sustained by any the infants, even in unritualized bouts. 2) In pairs, there was no relationship between social rank proportion that initiated either animal. 3) Dominant animals more likely than subordinate individuals to escalate first (perform unprovoked dangerous move) during short interactions then subsequently win fights. 4) Highest-ranking (alpha) litters did not fight most. 5) Alpha 73% which they partook. won 86% contests initiated. 6) For fourth-ranking litters, a perfect positive correlation times encounters. They least with first- third-ranking animals. 7) escalated about same time, but alpha greater 8) Both greatest time nearest rank, whom may have experienced difficulty assessing relative standing. 9) data suggested individuals, especially able make pre-fight assessments respect this ability. During-fight appeared easier make, using escalation test an opponent.