Parrying
Mouse Ethogram > Active Behaviors > General Activity > Agonistic Interactions > Aggressive Behaviors > Parrying
Overview and Meaning
Parrying is a form of aggressive behavior that typically occurs in response to a territorial threat. It usually occurs at territorial boundaries if another mouse attempts to enter a established territory.
Description
While positioned in elevated crouch or submissive upright, alternated kicking with the forepaws often accompanied by squeaking occurs. This is often combined with a small retreating movement of the body; however, the animal will remain in its place. Two forms of this are parrying forward and sideways. In the sideways act a hind leg may also be used for kicking.
Classification
Contexts
Agonistic interactions can occur in the context of territorial behavior and/or dominance behavior. Territorial behavior and dominance behavior differ in the context that they occur, the resources under competition, and the threat behavior that initiates the interaction.
Variants
None
Parrying is part of
Aggressive Behaviors
These behaviors are characteristic of escalated aggression, and consist of:
Aggressive behaviors are part of
Agonistic Interactions
The full behavior chain consists of:
Agonistic interactions occur to assert territory or dominance. This can proceed as either mediated aggression or escalated aggression, differentiated by the absence or presence of aggressive behaviors.
Stanford Department of Comparative Medicine presents
A Comprehensive Ethogram of the Laboratory Mouse
