Wheel-running preferences in the small Australian marsupial Antechinus.

Abstract

The wheel-running behaviour of the dasyurid marsupial Antechinus flavipes leucogaster was examined with regard to preferences for certain shapes (i.e., round, round with hurdles, hexagonal and square) before and after enforced experience with each wheel. The round and hurdle wheels were the most commonly preferred, but the results were not consistent when the relative position of the wheels was changed and the animals tested immediately a second time. Wheel shape appears to be marginally more important than the relative position of the wheels in determining preferences, but clear preferences were evident when four round wheels were provided. These observations re-emphasise the need for caution when interpreting the results of certain types of free-choice experiments in animal behaviour.