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BIO 661
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR LAB REPORT
PRACTICAL 2: AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
INTORDUCTION
Aggressive is a complex phenomenon and has many definitions. One definition includes
predatory behaviour in which the animal that is attacked is eaten in the process. Other
definitions include aggression as behaviour that appears to be intended to inflict anxious
stimulation or destruction on other organisms (physiologists view, Mayor 1976). Lorentz
(1996) defined aggression as the “fighting instinct in animals which is directed against
members of the same family”. A more precise definition is agonistic behaviour which is a
system of behaviour patterns with the common function of adjustment to situations to conflict
among conspecifics. This includes threats, submissions, chases and physical combat include
territorial, dominance, sexual, parental, parent-offspring, predators and anti-predators.
PROCEDURE
In this practical, some aspects of the aggressive behaviour of this Siamese fighting fish will
be measured. The males were initially kept separated. Next the behaviour of the males in
isolation and later when they are exposed to each other. The moment when the fishes were
moved to the tables, the fishes were left there for at least 5 minutes to allow the fishes to
settle down. The barriers were not removed. The barriers are to be removed only when the
measurement were ready to be made. The behaviour patterns were observed for
approximately 20-30 minutes.
RESULTS
Fish A Fish B
Before After Before After
Swimming pattern No movement Left and right / Up and down Left and right /
Increase increase