Regurgitative food transfer among wild wolves
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Abstract
Few studies of monogamous canids have addressed regurgitation in the context of extended parental care and alloparental care within family groups. We studied food transfer by regurgitation in a pack of wolves on Ellesmere Island, North West Territories, Canada, during 6 summers from 1988 through 1996. All adult wolves, including yearlings and a post-reproductive female, regurgitated food. Although individuals regurgitated up to five times per bout, the overall ratio of regurgitations per bout was 1.5. Pups were more likely to receive regurgitations (81%) than the breeding female (14%) or auxiliaries (6%). The breeding male regurgitated mostly to the breeding female and pups, and the breeding female regurgitated primarily to pups. The relative effort of the breeding female was correlated with litter size (Kendall's τ = 0.93, P = 0.01).
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Regurgitative food transfer among wild wolves |
| Series title | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
| DOI | 10.1139/z99-097 |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Year Published | 1999 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | NRC Research Press |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| First page | 1192 |
| Last page | 1195 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |