Age‐related Differences in Playfighting Strategies of Captive Male Red‐necked Wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus banksianus)

Abstract

Age‐related differences in the playfighting strategy of captive male red‐necked wallabies Macropus rufogriseus banksianus was examined. Our purpose was to determine whether wallabies adjusted their play in response to their partner's age and, if so, how. The way in which a wallaby played was dependent on the relative age of its partner, and this pattern tended to be the same regardless of whether it was the initiator or reactor of the interaction. If a wallaby's partner was younger than itself it adopted a defensive strategy in which it self‐handicapped by standing flat‐footed, Pawing rather than Sparring, and by not using its full strength. Its greater rate of Shaking suggests that this act may function as an appeasement signal in play. Furthermore, it was highly tolerant of the tactics used by its younger partner and took the more active role in prolonging interactions. If, on the other hand, its partner was older than itself, it adopted an offensive strategy involving vigorous Sparring, increased time in the High‐stance posture and a greater percentage of bouts that were of high intensity. Indeed, it played with even more vigour than when it playfought with wallabies of the same age as itself. Differences in the play of same‐aged partners were in the non‐fighting components of play, while those of differently‐aged partners were in the fighting components. Play between same‐aged partners, however, tended to be more stable and more competitive than that between partners of differing age. These results are discussed with emphasis on the compromises made in order for play to occur and the potential benefits to each partner of play in mixed‐age class encounters. We briefly consider the implications of self‐handicapping in the categorization of macropodid fights as play or aggression.

The Development of Social Play in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

“…When play does occur between a young animal and an older play partner, it often involves self-handicapping in which the larger, more skilled individual adjusts its play to match that of the less skilled individual (Bekoff & Allen, 1998;Biben, 1998;Fagen, 1981;Mendoza-Granados & Sommer 1995;Spinka et al, 2001, Watson & Croft, 1996. By participating in challenging activities, such as play with more advanced conspecifics, young animals are able to manage their development, staying with easier activities if the outcome was failure, or advancing to more difficult activities if the outcome was success (Thompson, 1998).…”

Animal pleasure and its moral significance

“…Adult red-necked wallabies self-handicap against smaller and weaker playmates. For example, rarely does the larger partner rear up or kick; littler playmates are also much more vigorous in their play-fighting (Watson and Croft, 1996). Younger chimps are more likely to engage older chimps who are soliciting play if the latter shows self-handicapping behavior (Mendoza-Granados and Sommer, 1995).…”

Play Behavior in Wolves: Using the ‘50:50’ Rule to Test for Egalitarian Play Styles

“…In this case, the baboons’ behavior could also be interpreted as submissive behaviors rather than self-handicapping ones, as the older individuals could be better at taking into account when their partner had allies around. As for non-primate species, captive male red-necked wallabies, Macropus rufogriseus banksianus , exhibit higher levels of self-handicapping behaviors towards younger partners, which then allows their partners to gain the advantage during play and take the ‘winning’ position [ 16 ]. Bekoff [ 17 ] also suggests that individuals which do not play ‘fairly’ may be excluded from play groups.…”