Book Description

This well-accepted book, now stands in its second edition, is a time-honoured revision and extension of the previous edition. Beginning with an introduction to the study of animal behaviour, the book explains the various aspects of behavioural biology incorporating a wealth of information from molecular biology, neurobiology, and socio-biology with a new approach. It describes different kinds of innate and learned behaviours, animal communications, defensive behaviours such as camouflage and mimicry with suitable illustrations. The book incorporates the introductory concepts of biomimicry in an attractive manner. Further, it discusses biorhythms, migration in fish and birds, in addition to evolution and physiological basis of migration. The text also presents the important aspects of socio-biology and social behaviours, such as feeding, adaptation, prey defence, territoriality, aggression, altruism, sexuality, and parental care. Finally, it provides discussions on behavioural ecology in the context of conservation biology, and human behaviour. The book presents the basic principles of animal behaviour with the aid of carefully selected examples from both the recent and classic literature along with an emphasis on readability. In the present edition, topics like eusociality and behavioural theories have been incorporated. This edition also includes as many as 11 published articles by the author on different topics related to the subject matter in box format to further strengthen the text. The book is primarily intended for the students of B.Sc./M.Sc. (Zoology/Life Science) for their courses. It would be useful for the researchers in the field of animal behaviour, and conservation biologists. It would also attract readership studying Sociology and Anthropology. KEY FEATURES : Presents a well-balanced view of ethology. Discusses the current development in the field. Includes a glossary of important terms. Offers end-of-chapter questions to check the students' understanding of the concepts.