A comment on fellatio in captive brown bears (Ursus arctos): Seeking satisfaction of frustrated suckling?

• Autorzy: Sergiel A. , Maslak R. , Zedrosser A. , Pasko L. , Gorshelis D. L. , Reljic S. , Huber D.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Little is known about sexually-oriented behaviors unrelated to reproduction in non-human mammals. Fellatio has been observed in a number of mammals, including bears, but the role and cause of this behavior remains unclear. We investigated the mechanisms and determinants of regular and persistent fellatio in two captive male brown bears, both orphaned as cubs. The roles of the males, one as the provider and the other as receiver of fellatio, never changed during the observation period. Humming vocalizations used by suckling bear cubs, were clearly audible during 18 fellatio acts, suggesting that the providing bear retained infantile behavior. To our knowledge, this constitutes the first study of this behavior in bears. Bear cubs suckle their mothers for milk, bonding, and comfort for at least the first year of their life. Orphaned bear cubs may suckle own or their sibling’s body parts as a substitute for nipples. Forced premature weaning and subsequent deprivation of proper and sufficient stimulation of the suckling reflex can result in teatsearching behavior persisting into adulthood. Our data suggest that the fellatio behavior observed in the captive bears may have emerged from frustrated suckling reflex in individuals orphaned as cubs.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Rocznik: 2014
• Tom: 74
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: p.366-367

Twórcy

autor

Sergiel A.

• Department of Wildlife Conservation, Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow, Poland

autor

Maslak R.

• Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland

autor

Zedrosser A.

• Department of Environmental and Health Studies, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Telemark University College, Bø, Norway
• Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

autor

Pasko L.

• Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland

autor

Gorshelis D. L.

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA

autor

Reljic S.

• Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

autor

Huber D.

• Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia