A aprendizagem do descascamento de sementes pelo camundongo Calomys callosus (Rodentia, Cricetidae)

Resumo

To assess whether there are learning and motivational effects in seed hulling performance by mice, Calomys callosus, we offered two groups of mice sunflower seeds (with which they did not have previous contact) during two daily training sessions and in a test session which occurred one or two weeks later (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, two groups of mice hulled sunflower seeds while satiated (one block of 4 sessions) and deprived of food (one block of 4 sessions), order of conditions being alternated between groups. There was a significant decrease in seed hulling time from the first seed to the next ones and from one training session to the next (Exp. 1) and from one block of sessions to the next (Exp. 2). No forgetting or motivational effects were, however, detected. Our results indicate that C. callosus, as other rodents, may improve food handling performance through experience.