Zig-Zag
Mouse Ethogram > Active Behaviors > General Activity > Agonistic Interactions > Threat Behaviors > Zig-Zag
Overview and Meaning
Zigzag appears to be a sign of arousal, a displacement activity, or a social signal, depending on the context under which it is described. In either case it seems to indicate conflict between approaching and withdrawing from a particular stimulus.
This behavior is mostly observed in wild populations of mice at established territorial boundaries, and typically precedes tail rattling. In the home cage this behavior may not be observed due to the inability to map out clear territorial boundaries.
Description
A special gait is often accompanied by short parade steps combined with piloerection. Usually this behavior starts and stops in a definite place. The mouse may move back and forth in front of an intruder, typically along a territorial boundary.
Classification
Threat Behaviors, part of Agonistic Interactions
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
Zig-zag is a threat behavior. These include:
Zig-zag is characteristic of territorial behavior.
The full behavior chain consists of:
These 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
