Этологические механизмы взаимодействия мышевидных грызунов с рыжими лесными муравьями

Abstract

This is the first evidence of possible interaction between small rodents and ants as the predators and mass prey based on specialized behavioural patterns and cognitive abilities. The efficiency of hunting in Apodemus sgrarius is comparable with specialized predators and higher in males than in females. In experiments with transparent tunnels containing different numbers of live ants, mice chose the tunnel with the smaller quantity of biting ants, thus demonstrating their ability to estimate quantities of stimuli in order to ensure comfortable hunting.