From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-04-06 15:29:50 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: My ferrets are fighting..help!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I think that what Ailigh is pointing out is that the precise uses
of terms like "Alpha", "Beta", "Omega", "Dominant", "Recessive",
etc. which are used for social species can not be applied in the
same ways to species that are loosely social (and I think she had
an accidental typo in relation to wolves -- something which
happens to us all but I am happy to learn more whether I am
right or wrong in that guess).
Domestic ferrets are descended from a species that is largely
asocial except as juveniles, or when mating, or when mother
is raising the kits. Domestic ferrets have have characteristics of
neotany (also called juvenilization in the popular lit). Neotany
is when the characteristics of juveniles appear in adults. In
domestic ferrets that apparently includes the ability to get along
well together. It is a type of social unit, yes, but it is not a
type which has a long, wild background to it so the terms --
when loosely used for ferret social behavior -- can not be
assumed to mean what they mean for wolves, or for other
highly social groups. It appears more to be a carry-over of
kits getting long okay together.
Ailigh, would you like to teach us all more?
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "iluvmefuzzies5" <iluvmefuzzies5@...> wrote:
>
> what do you mean by inaccurate wolf pack behavior?. what are you
> saying that ferrets dont dominate?
> --- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Ailigh" <ailighsark@> wrote:
> >
> > I am going to throw a wrench in the works here as a behavior person
> > and say that we need to be careful using inaccurate wolf pack
> behavior
> > terms when applying them to a non-social species.
> <SNIP>
>
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