Experiments on the control of temperature in the mound of the Mallee-fowl, Leipoa ocellata Gould (Megapodiidae)

Abstract

The mallee-fowl, Leipoa ocellata Gould, is shown to be capable of detecting artificially induced changes in the internal temperature of its incubator mound, and of altering its behaviour to deal with them. It is suggested that the tongue is the organ involved in the perception of mound temperature, and that the temperature- regulation behaviour is based on certain responses.