The role of vibrissae in behavior: a status review

AS Ahl - Veterinary research communications, 1986 - Springer
AS Ahl
Veterinary research communications, 1986Springer
Vibrissae or tactile hairs are an important part of the tactile sensory apparatus of many
mammals. A wide range of suggested functions found in the literature include food
acquisition prey attack, aggression and attack behavior, facial expression in intraspecies
communications, dispersion of pheromones, maintaining head position in swimming, and a
wide range of environmental monitoring (eg, current detection in water, wind direction on
land). There is little work done specifically on domestic animals or their feral relatives. Work …
Abstract
Vibrissae or tactile hairs are an important part of the tactile sensory apparatus of many mammals. A wide range of suggested functions found in the literature include food acquisition prey attack, aggression and attack behavior, facial expression in intraspecies communications, dispersion of pheromones, maintaining head position in swimming, and a wide range of environmental monitoring (e. g., current detection in water, wind direction on land). There is little work done specifically on domestic animals or their feral relatives. Work on the tactile senses in general and vibrissae in particular is an open field of study. A set of general questions for study of vibrissa function in domestic animals is presented.
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