Data from: A free-ranging, feral mare (Equus caballus) affords similar maternal care to her genetic and adopted offspring
Data files
May 20, 2013 version files 161.36 KB
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1995_1996 weather.xlsx
10.99 KB
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Aggression Data AmNat 051713.csv
17.25 KB
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Contact Data AmNat 051713.csv
4.16 KB
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Dist Data AmNat 051713.csv
104.14 KB
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Intake Rate Data AmNat 051713.csv
7.34 KB
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Term Data AmNat 051713.csv
17.49 KB
Abstract
Adoption of non-genetic offspring occurs in a variety of species, but is rare in equids. We report a case of adoption by a free-ranging, feral mare (Equus caballus) and compare the maternal care received by her genetic offspring (born 1995) to that of her adopted offspring (born 1996) for the first 30 weeks of development. We compare five measures of care: 1) total time spent suckling, 2) mare aggression during suckling, 3) number of mare-terminated suckling bouts, 4) contact maintenance, and 5) mare-foal distance. For most behaviors, we detected no difference in the mare's treatment of the two foals, however, mare-foal distance was greater for the genetic offspring. We compare hypotheses regarding the reasons for adoption, offering post-partum physiological state as a potential driver.