Ethogram Comparison
Methods and Protocols > About Ethograms > Ethogram Comparison
Methods and Protocols
About Ethograms
Observational Methods
- Standard operating procedures for recording behavior
- Standard operating procedure for aerial recording
SOPs for Particular Research Questions
- Standard operating procedure for marking animals
- Standard operating procedure for time budget
- Standard operating procedure for abnormal behaviors
- Standard operating procedure for nesting behavior
- Standard operating procedure for live recording using direct observation
- Standard operating procedure for spray test
This is a table comparing the ethogram on this website to four other commonly cited ethograms. This is not an all inclusive comparision of all the behavior categories in the website because the website contains categories that were not included in the four ethograms compared below. For example, the web based ethogram contains categories on Abnormal Behaviors and Maternal Behaviors that were not included in the four ethograms used in the comparision below (please see references and further reading for more information on these behaviors).
Many of these behaviors can be grouped into different categories depending on the research question. Please see the page on grouping behaviors for more information.
Mouse Ethogram from Stanford Comparative Medicine |
Van Abeelen, |
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| Exploratory Behavior | ||||
Attend |
Attend |
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Approach |
Approach |
Approach |
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Nose |
Nose |
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Sniff |
Sniff |
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Nosing |
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Sniffing at Peat Dust |
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Sniffing at Food Pellet |
Investigate |
Investigate |
Investigate |
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Exploring Postures |
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Explore |
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Exploring Approach |
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Stretched Attend |
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Stretched Attention Posture |
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Attention Posture |
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Staring at the Observer |
| Flight & Submissive Behavior | ||||
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Flag (head movement) |
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Evade (whole of the forepart of the body) |
Evade |
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Withdrawal |
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Retreat |
Retreat |
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Flee (a form of retreat) |
Flee |
Fleeing |
Fleeing |
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On Bars (a form of flee upwards) |
On Bars |
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Off Bars |
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Freeze |
Freeze |
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Leave |
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Crouch |
Crouch |
Crouch |
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Elevated Crouch |
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Elevated Crouch |
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Full Submissive Posture |
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On Back |
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Submission |
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Straight Legs |
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Sideways |
Sideways Posture |
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Offensive Sideways Posture |
Offensive Sideways |
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Defensive Sideways |
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Upright |
Upright Posture |
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Offensive Upright |
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Defensive Upright |
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Oblique Posture |
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Submissive Upright |
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| Sexual Behaviors | ||||
Follow |
Follow |
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Sniff (Defined for the purpose of mating) |
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Nosing Genitals |
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Attempted Mount |
Attempted Mount |
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Mount |
Mount |
Mounting |
Mounting |
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Post Copulatory Groom |
Genital Groom |
Genital Washing |
Licking the Genitals |
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Sexual Motivation |
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Lying Flat |
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Falling Over |
Crawl-Over |
Crawl-Over |
Crawl-Over |
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Crawl-Under |
Crawl-Under |
Push Under |
Crawling Under |
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Push Past |
Push Past |
Push Past |
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Copulation |
Copulation |
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Touching |
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Creeping in Front of Partner |
| Allo-Grooming | ||||
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Groom |
Social Grooming |
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Aggressive Groom |
Aggressive Groom |
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| Aggressive Behavior | ||||
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Fighting |
Wrestling |
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Bite |
Bite |
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Chase-Bite |
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Chase |
Chase |
Chasing |
Chasing |
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Over |
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Attack |
Attack |
Attack |
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Threat/Thrust |
Threat |
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Kicking |
| Territorial Behavior | ||||
Tail Rattle |
Rattle |
Tail Rattling |
Tail Rattling |
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Parrying |
Parrying |
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Retreat Distance |
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Circle |
Circle |
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Zigzag |
Zigzag |
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Circling |
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Walk Around |
Walk Around |
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Figure-of-eight |
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Mince |
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Mincing |
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Boxing Posture |
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Side Display |
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Boxing |
Boxing |
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Fixing |
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Dancing Position |
| Maintenance Behaviors | ||||
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Self-Groom |
Grooming |
Grooming |
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Shaking the Fur |
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Vibrating with the Forepaws |
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Wash |
Washing |
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Eat |
Eating |
Eating |
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Drink |
Drinking |
Drinking |
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Scratching |
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Claw Cleaning |
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Hair Fluffing |
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Food Carrying |
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Defecating |
| Nesting Behaviors | ||||
Digging |
Dig |
Digging |
Digging |
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Push-dig |
Push Dig |
Push-dig |
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Kick-Dig |
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Scrape-dig |
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Pulling in or Hauling in |
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Carrying |
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Fraying |
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Stripping |
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Arranging |
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| Inactive | ||||
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Sleeping |
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Resting |
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Social Rest |
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| General Activity | ||||
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Locomotion |
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Upright |
Reconnoitering |
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Lifting One Forepaw |
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Sniffing |
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Sniffing at Rack, Sniffing at Bottle |
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Note: jumping is classified as a stereotypy for the purposes of this website. |
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Jumping |
Jumping |
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Hopping |
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Shaking |
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Squire |
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Sitting Upright |
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Leaning Against Wall |
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Gnawing at Wall |
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Climbing |
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Hanging
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Stanford Department of Comparative Medicine presents
A Comprehensive Ethogram of the Laboratory Mouse
