Tonic Immobility as a Predator-Defense in the Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1981

Description

Proximity of either the experimenter or the home cage was found to affect speed of recovery from tonic immobility in rabbits. The closer the experimenter was to the rabbit during immobility, the slower the rabbit was to right itself. Conversely, the closer the home cage was to the rabbit, the more quickly the rabbit righted itself. Habituation of the response was not observed in rabbits in any of the groups. These results suggest that there may be species differences in habituation of tonic immobility because the response readily habituates in chickens. The effects of the proximity of the experimenter or home cage on speed of recovery from immobility support the hypothesis that this form of immobility serves as a defense against predation.

Share

COinS