Ontogeny of social behaviour related to feeding in the Crab‐eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) and the Bush dog (Speothos venaticus)

This study examines the development of social interactions involved in food apportionment in two captive parent‐raised litters of Crab‐eating foxes ( Cerdocyon thous ) and three of Bush dogs ( Speothos venaticus ), by presentation of live prey items and a regular food ration. Cerdocyon pups are initially very aggressive over food but, with experience, gradually develop the adult pattern of respecting ownership of food, without determining access by means of a dominance hierarchy. Adults mediate food transfers between pups and facilitate the learning process as well as the distribution of food resources. Speothos pups never fight over or defend food and show no important ontogenetic changes in response to feeding situations.