Abstract
In Exp. 1 6 adult male Long-Evans derived rats ( Rattus norvegicus) and 6 adult male spiny mice ( Acomys cahirinus) were observed individually inside a 60-cm × 30-cm × 30-cm open field during a 15-min. session. Measures of locomotion, immobility, self-grooming, rearing-up, and object contact were obtained. Tests of species differences indicated that spiny mice showed significantly more locomotor and rearing behavior than Norway rats. In Exp. 2 12 adult Norway rats (6 male, 6 female) and 12 adult spiny mice (6 male, 6 female) were observed individually inside a six-compartment maze during a 15-min. session. Although no sex difference in maze exploration was found, spiny mice showed significantly more maze exploration than Norway rats. These results suggest that spiny mice, highly precocial in development relative to Norway rats, exhibit correlates of that neonatal competence as adults evidenced by greater behavioral activity and locomotor exploration in novel environments.
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