Effect of Different Novel Objects on the Behavior of Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

Abstract

　This study examined the effect of novel objects on the behavior of five captive giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) from three zoos. We presented them with three novel objects (wood, soil mound, and plastic tube) and observed their behavior toward each object for five or seven days. We recorded their response behaviors and response time to the objects using continuous sampling and their behaviors (locomotion, exploration, resting, and others) using 1-min instantaneous sampling. In addition, we recorded stereotypic behavior during the mound and plastic tube experiments using 1-0 sampling. We found specific response behaviors for the mound (rubbing, digging, alert, and threat) and plastic tube (playing). Response time differed between objects (wood ≥ plastic tube ≥ soil mound). The first to third days yielded the highest response time, which decreased by > 70% on the fifth to seventh days after showing the novel objects. The novel objects did not affect the most common behaviors (locomotion and exploration). Although stereotypic behavior varied between individuals, on most days during the study period (soil mound: 78.8 ± 0.3%, plastic tube: 82.1 ± 0.2%) test animals had a lower rate of stereotypic behavior than the control day. Our study indicates that introducing novel objects to captive anteaters leads to increased behavioral diversity. The objects have the strongest effect on behavior within the first three days, but their influence can continue for up to a week, even if the anteaters do not directly interact with them.