Fred and Joe, two unrelated, mature male gorillas, encounter one another. Fred is courting a female. Fred grunts as Joe comes near. As Joe continues to advance, Fred begins drumming (pounding his chest)and bares his teeth. Joe then rolls on the ground on his back, gets up, and quickly leaves. This behavioral pattern is repeated several times during the mating season. Choose the most specific behavior described by this example.
A) agonistic behavior
B) territorial behavior
C) learned behavior
D) social behavior
E) fixed action pattern

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior exhibited by Fred and Joe is an example of agonistic behavior, which is a social behavior involving threats or combat between individuals of the same species. The specific behaviors mentioned, such as grunting, chest pounding, and teeth baring, are all examples of agonistic behaviors.

Fred and Joe, Two Unrelated, Mature Male Gorillas, Encounter One