Abstract:
Animal personality traits (consistent behavioral differences between individuals in their
behavior across time and/or situation) affect individual fitness through facets, such as dispersal. In
eusocial naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) colonies, a disperser morph may arise with distinct
morphological, behavioral, and physiological characteristics. This study aimed to quantify the
personality traits of a cohort of disperser morphs of naked mole-rat (NMR). Behavioral tests were
performed on twelve disperser morphs (six males and six females) in an observation tunnel system
that was novel and unfamiliar. Novel stimuli (fresh snakeskin, tissue paper, and conspecific of the
same sex) were introduced for fifteen minutes, and the behavioral acts of the individual were recorded.
A total of 30 behaviors were noted during the behavioral tests of which eight were used to quantify
aggression, boldness, and exploration. The NMR disperser morphs showed consistent individual
differences in boldness, and exploration across time and test, indicating a distinct personality. In
addition, new naked mole-rat responses including disturbance behaviors; confront, barricade, and
stay-away, were recorded. Further investigations into the relationships between animal personality
traits and social hierarchy position in entire colonies are needed for more informative results as we
further investigate the role of personality in cooperatively breeding societies.
