Necrophobic behavior in small mammals

Necrophobic behaviors, defined as the avoidance of dead or injured conspecifics, have been formally documented in insects and aquatic organisms. It is plausible that such avoidance has been selected for by the risks of predation and disease that are associated with the presence of cadavers, and that necrophobic behaviors may be present across a variety of taxa. We demonstrate the avoidance of a house mouse (Mus musculus) cadaver by small mammals visiting experimental food trays, and by male and female house mice in a Y-maze exploration paradigm. In addition, we present individual differences in the responses of house mice to a house mouse cadaver. Further, we propose potential applications for the study of necrophobic behavior in improving wildlife management practices and models in disease ecology.

► Tested for the avoidance of a Mus musculus cadaver by small mammals using experimental food trays and giving-up-density analysis.
► Tested for the avoidance of a Mus musculus cadaver by Mus musculus in a Y-maze paradigm.
► Experimental food trays containing a Mus musculus cadaver had a higher giving-up-density than control food trays.
► Mus musculus would take longer to pass a Mus musculus cadaver than a control object in a Y-maze paradigm.
► Mus musculus displayed intraspecific variation in individual responses to the Mus musculus cadaver in the Y-maze.