home / ethogram menu /apes /

Species: Gorilla

Use: N/A

Authors: D. J. Frisch, Columbus Zoo

Methods: Sampling method

Publications/Presentations: N/A

Behaviors

Lie: Being recumbent with little or no weight being borne on hands or feet.

Sit: Bearing most weight on buttocks.

Stand still: Bearing weight on feet quadrupedally, or bipedally with hands holding on to mesh, glass, trees, etc.

Locomote: Walking, running, or climbing.

Rest near: Sitting or lying within armÕs reach of another for at least 10 seconds. Initiator is second animal to rest. The receiver must be relatively immobile but need not be resting.

Grooming: Directed touching, licking, or intense visual inspection of anotherÕs (GO) or own (GS) skin or pelage. Scratching excluded.

Intimidation display: Beating on chest or abdomen, beating on cage surface, rapid exaggerated throwing or shoving of objects.

Rough up: Slapping, poking, elbowing, punching, hair pulling, pushing, shoving, or wrestling when not in play or sexual context.

Aggressive bite: Biting when not in play.

Crouch: Initiator lowers ventrum toward on to substrate, or curls fetally on substrate. Event terminated when normal or resting posture resumed.

Inspect genitalia: Sniffing, touching, or intense visual inspection of anotherÕs genitalia (IGO) or own genitalia (IGS).

Sex solicit: Female purses lips and stares at/follows/reaches toward male. Event terminated when lips relax for at least 10 seconds.

Copulation: Dorso-ventral mounting (DVC) or ventro-ventro mounting (VVC) with pelvic thrusting. Event terminated when either animal breaks body contact. Note if intromission confirmed (very difficult) or if semen observed afterward on penis or vagina.

Masturbate: Rhythmic rubbing of genitalia with any part of own body (e.g., finger or toe) or against inanimate object.

Yawn: Per usual definition.

Feces: Manipulation or mouthing of own or anotherÕs feces.

Regurgitate: Vomiting into mouth, hand, or onto substrate.

Play behavior: Poking, tickling, wrestling, chasing in non-aggressive manner.