Presentation Details
| Let’s Be Friends: The Southern Flying Squirrel as a New Model Species For Social Behavior Angela Freeman1, Kelly Mitzel1, 2, Katie Ekholm1. 1Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA.2Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA |
Abstract
The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a small, nocturnal, arboreal mammal native to the eastern parts of North America. Known for its patagium which allows the squirrel to glide from tree to tree, this species has a lesser-known feature of forming “friendships” (selective, affiliative relationships) with other conspecifics. Throughout the year, southern flying squirrels can be found huddling together in shared nest sites in groups of up to 50 members. This presentation focuses on the factors that affect this huddling behavior (e.g., kinship, familiarity, sex, endocrinology, environmental factors) and highlights the fun (and frustrations) of working with a ‘new model’ for social behavior.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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