Cognition and behaviour in captive dingoes (Canis dingo) /
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(Published version)
Date
2010
Authors
Smith, Bradley,
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thesis
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Abstract
To date, assessment of cognitive abilities in canids has focused primarily on domestic dogs or wolves. Cognitive studies have yet to include ‘dingo-like’ canids, believed to be involved in early human-dog relationships. Knowledge about dingo cognitive abilities may aid in further understanding the evolution of behaviour, and social and non-social cognition of the Family Canidae. This thesis begins with a review of the relationship between Indigenous Australians and dingoes (Canis dingo). This was done to highlight some of the issues facing researchers in this area, as they attempt to understand the process of domestication and the complex relationship between canids and humans. Following this, a series of experiments previously conducted on domestic dogs and wolves are replicated in order to conduct a comparative analysis of canid cognition, and determine whether dingoes are more ‘wolflike’ or ‘dog-like’ in their performance of social (object-choice paradigm and rope-pulling task) and non-social (detour task) cognitive tasks. In the experimental setting, a number of higher-order information processing skills were observed, apparently unique to dingoes.
School/Discipline
University of South Australia. School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy.
School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy.
School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy.
Dissertation Note
Thesis (PhDPsychology)--University of South Australia, 2010.
Provenance
Copyright 2010 Bradley Smith. This item has been reproduced by the University of South Australia here in good faith. Attempts to contact original copyright owner(s) are ongoing. We would be pleased to hear from copyright owner(s).
Description
xii, 232 leaves :
colour illustrations.
Includes bibliographic references.
colour illustrations.
Includes bibliographic references.
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506 0#$fstar $2Unrestricted online access