Stereotypy (non-human)

An elephant exhibiting stereotyped trunk swinging and rocking behaviour

In animal behaviour, stereotypy, stereotypic or stereotyped behaviour has several meanings, leading to ambiguity in the scientific literature.^[1] A stereotypy is a term for a group of phenotypic behaviours that are repetitive, morphologically identical and which possess no obvious goal or function.^[2] These behaviours have been defined as "abnormal", as they exhibit themselves solely in animals subjected to barren environments, scheduled or restricted feedings, social deprivation and other cases of frustration,^[3] but do not arise in "normal" animals in their natural environments.^[4] These behaviours may be maladaptive, involving self-injury or reduced reproductive success, and in laboratory animals can confound behavioural research.^[5] Stereotypical behaviours are thought to be caused ultimately by artificial environments that do not allow animals to satisfy their normal behavioural needs. Rather than refer to the behaviour as abnormal, it has been suggested that it be described as "behaviour indicative of an abnormal environment".^[6]

Stereotyped behaviour can also refer to normal behaviours that show low variation. For example, mammalian chewing cycles or fish capturing prey using suction feeding. Highly stereotyped movements may be due to mechanical constraint (such as the skull of a viper or fish, in which bones are mechanically linked), tight neural control (as in mammalian chewing), or both. The degree of stereotyping may vary markedly between closely related species engaging in the same behaviour.^[1]

^ ^a ^b "Home | Clemson University, South Carolina" (PDF).
^ Mason, G. (1993). "Age and context affect the stereotypies of caged mink" (PDF). Behaviour. 127 (2): 191–229. doi:10.1163/156853993x00029. hdl:10214/4679.
^ Hansen, S.; Jeppesen, L. (2006). "Temperament, stereotypies and anticipatory behaviour as measures of welfare in mink". Applied Animal Science Behaviour. 99 (1): 172–182. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2005.10.005.
^ Jeppesen, L.; Heller, K.; Bidsoe, M. (2004). "Stereotypies in female farm mink may be genetically transmitted with higher fertility due to effects on body weight". Applied Animal Behaviour. 86 (1): 137–143. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2003.11.011.
^ Garner, JP; Mason, GJ (2002). "Evidence for a relationship between cage stereotypies and behavioural disinhibition in laboratory rodents". Behav Brain Res. 136 (1): 83–92. doi:10.1016/S0166-4328(02)00111-0. hdl:10214/4711. PMID 12385793. S2CID 12731260.
^ Davis, E.; Down, N.; Garner, J; et al. (2004). "Stereotypical behavior: a LAREF discussion" (PDF). Lab Primate Newsl. 34 (4): 3–4. Retrieved 2009-12-21.

[WMH-1] "Home | Clemson University, South Carolina" (PDF).

[:0-2] Mason, G. (1993). "Age and context affect the stereotypies of caged mink" (PDF). Behaviour. 127 (2): 191–229. doi:10.1163/156853993x00029. hdl:10214/4679.

[3] Hansen, S.; Jeppesen, L. (2006). "Temperament, stereotypies and anticipatory behaviour as measures of welfare in mink". Applied Animal Science Behaviour. 99 (1): 172–182. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2005.10.005.

[:1-4] Jeppesen, L.; Heller, K.; Bidsoe, M. (2004). "Stereotypies in female farm mink may be genetically transmitted with higher fertility due to effects on body weight". Applied Animal Behaviour. 86 (1): 137–143. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2003.11.011.

[garner_mason-5] Garner, JP; Mason, GJ (2002). "Evidence for a relationship between cage stereotypies and behavioural disinhibition in laboratory rodents". Behav Brain Res. 136 (1): 83–92. doi:10.1016/S0166-4328(02)00111-0. hdl:10214/4711. PMID 12385793. S2CID 12731260.

[primate_newsletter-6] Davis, E.; Down, N.; Garner, J; et al. (2004). "Stereotypical behavior: a LAREF discussion" (PDF). Lab Primate Newsl. 34 (4): 3–4. Retrieved 2009-12-21.

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