FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Biology letters2008; 5(1); 23-25; doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2008.0571

An infanticide attempt by a free-roaming feral stallion (Equus caballus).

Abstract: Infanticide by adult males occurs in a variety of species. While infanticidal attacks have been documented in several equid species in captivity, it has never been witnessed in free-roaming feral horses. I report an infanticide attempt by a free-living feral stallion on a recently born female foal. The stallion picked up the foal by the shoulders, tossed it around twice and bit in on the neck several times. The dam of the foal charged the stallion and successfully protected her foal from additional attacks. The foal survived the attack and later weaned successfully. The stallion recently took over the band and was excluded as the sire through genetic analysis. While this type of attack is rare, this case lends support to the sexual selection hypothesis and further demonstrates that equids have evolved with the risk of infanticide. Furthermore, it shows that maternal protectiveness can be successful against attacks by infanticidal males.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2008-11-21 PubMed ID: 19019779PubMed Central: PMC2657763DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2008.0571Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research records the first observed case of attempted infanticide by a wild, feral stallion, who was not the biological father of the attacked foal. This behavior, while rare, supports theories about sexual selection and the risk of infanticide in equids.

Introduction and Background

  • The article begins by noting that infanticide by adult males is a behavior that is present in several species. This behavior, frequently associated with sexual selection theory, tends to occur when male adults kill offsprings that are not their own to increase their own breeding chances.
  • While this behavior has been documented in several equine species in captivity, it has not been previously observed in wild, free-roaming horses. This study reports the first observed instance, therefore contributing new information to current knowledge of equine behavior.

Study Observations

  • The study records an instance of attempted infanticide by a wild stallion on a newborn female foal. The stallion attacked the foal by picking her up by the shoulders, tossing her about, and biting her neck multiple times. The aggressive behavior suggests a direct attempt to kill the foal.
  • The mare, or mother of the foal, charged at the stallion and prevented further attacks, demonstrating protective maternal instincts in this species.
  • The foal survived the attack and was later successfully weaned, showing resilience in the face of initial endangerment.

Genetic Analysis and Conclusions

  • A genetic analysis was conducted to ascertain the parentage of the foal and it was confirmed that the attacking stallion was not the sire, supporting the theory that the attack was driven by sexual selection instincts.
  • The case lends support to the sexual selection hypothesis, highlighting that stallions may kill offspring not their own to boost their reproductive success.
  • The study establishes that infanticidal risks are a part of equine evolution, even though the instances are rare. It also highlights the protective instincts of the mother mare, showcasing successful maternal defenses against infanticidal males.

Cite This Article

APA
Gray ME. (2008). An infanticide attempt by a free-roaming feral stallion (Equus caballus). Biol Lett, 5(1), 23-25. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2008.0571

Publication

Biology letters
ISSN: 1744-9561
NlmUniqueID: 101247722
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 5
Issue: 1
Pages: 23-25

Researcher Affiliations

Gray, Meeghan E
  • Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA. meeghang@unr.nevada.edu

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Dominance

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Bartos L, Madlafousek J. Infanticide in the seasonal breeder: the case of red deer. Anim. Behav. 1994;47:217–219.
    doi: 10.1006/anbe.1994.1026google scholar: lookup
  2. Berger J. Induced abortion and social factors in wild horses.. Nature 1983 May 5-11;303(5912):59-61.
    doi: 10.1038/303059a0pubmed: 6682487google scholar: lookup
  3. Blumstein D.T. The evolution of infanticide in rodents: a comparative analysis. .
  4. Borries C, Launhardt K, Epplen C, Epplen JT, Winkler P. DNA analyses support the hypothesis that infanticide is adaptive in langur monkeys.. Proc Biol Sci 1999 May 7;266(1422):901-4.
    doi: 10.1098/rspb.1999.0721pmc: PMC1689922pubmed: 10380680google scholar: lookup
  5. Bowling A, Touchberry R. Parentage of great basin feral horses. J. Wildlife Manage. 1990;54:424–429.
    doi: 10.2307/3809652google scholar: lookup
  6. Buchan JC, Alberts SC, Silk JB, Altmann J. True paternal care in a multi-male primate society.. Nature 2003 Sep 11;425(6954):179-81.
    doi: 10.1038/nature01866pubmed: 12968180google scholar: lookup
  7. Cameron E, Linklater W, Stafford K, Minot E. Social grouping and maternal behaviour in feral horses (Equus caballus): the influence of males on maternal protectiveness. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 2003;53:92–101.
  8. Coulon J, Graziani L, Allaine D, Bel M.C, Puderoux S. Infanticide in the Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota). Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 1995;7:191–194.
  9. Crockett C.M, Janson C.H. Infanticide in red howlers: female group size, male membership, and a possible link to folivory. .
  10. Crowell-Davis SL, Houpt KA. Maternal behavior.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1986 Dec;2(3):557-71.
    pubmed: 3492245doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30706-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  11. Duncan P.B. Foal killing by stallions. Appl. Anim. Ethol. 1982;8:567–570.
    doi: 10.1016/0304-3762(82)90221-8google scholar: lookup
  12. Ebensperger L.A. Strategies and counterstrategies to infanticide in mammals. Biol. Rev. 1998;73:321–346.
    doi: 10.1017/S0006323198005209google scholar: lookup
  13. Feh C, Munkhtuya B. Male infanticide and paternity analyses in a socially natural herd of Przewalski's horses: sexual selection?. Behav Processes 2008 Jul;78(3):335-9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2007.12.009pubmed: 18328636google scholar: lookup
  14. Feist JD, McCullough DR. Reproduction in feral horses.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1975 Oct;(23):13-8.
    pubmed: 1060766
  15. Hrdy SB. Infanticide as a primate reproductive strategy.. Am Sci 1977 Jan-Feb;65(1):40-9.
    pubmed: 402873
  16. Kappeler PM. Determinants of primate social organization: comparative evidence and new insights from Malagasy lemurs.. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 1997 Feb;72(1):111-51.
    doi: 10.1017/S0006323196004999pubmed: 9116164google scholar: lookup
  17. Lewison R. Infanticide and the hippopotamus: evidence for polygynous ungulates. Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 1998;10:277–286.
  18. Linklater WL. Adaptive explanation in socio-ecology: lessons from the Equidae.. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2000 Feb;75(1):1-20.
    doi: 10.1017/S0006323199005411pubmed: 10740891google scholar: lookup
  19. Linklater WL, Cameron EZ, Minot EO, Stafford KJ. Stallion harassment and the mating system of horses.. Anim Behav 1999 Aug;58(2):295-306.
    doi: 10.1006/anbe.1999.1155pubmed: 10458881google scholar: lookup
  20. McDonnell S.M, Haviland J.C.S. Agonistic ethogram of the equid bachelor band. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1995;43:147–188.
    doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(94)00550-Xgoogle scholar: lookup
  21. Miller R. Male aggression, dominance amd breeding behavior in red desert feral horses. Z. Tierpsychol. 1981;57:340–351.
  22. Packer C, Pusey A.E. Adaptations of female lions to infanticide by incoming males. Am. Nat. 1983;121:716–728.
    doi: 10.1086/284097google scholar: lookup
  23. Penzhorn B.L. A long-term study of social organization and behavior of Cape mountain zebra Equus zebra zebra. Z. Tierpsychol. 1984;64:97–146.
  24. Pluhácek J, Bartos L. Male infanticide in captive plains zebra, Equus burchelli.. Anim Behav 2000 Apr;59(4):689-694.
    doi: 10.1006/anbe.1999.1371pubmed: 10792924google scholar: lookup
  25. Ryder O, Massena R. A case of male infanticide in Equus przewalskii. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1988;21:187–190.
    doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(88)90107-4google scholar: lookup
  26. Swenson J.E, Sandegren F, Soderberg A, Bjarvell A, Franzen R, Wabakken P. Infanticide caused by hunting male bears. Nature 1997;386:450–451.
    doi: 10.1038/386450a0google scholar: lookup
  27. Van Schaik C.P. Infanticide by male primates: the sexual selection hypothesis revisted. .
  28. van Schaik CP, Kappeler PM. Infanticide risk and the evolution of male-female association in primates.. Proc Biol Sci 1997 Nov 22;264(1388):1687-94.
    doi: 10.1098/rspb.1997.0234pmc: PMC1688726pubmed: 9404030google scholar: lookup
  29. Vom Saal FS, Franks P, Boechler M, Palanza P, Parmigiani S. Nest defense and survival of offspring in highly aggressive wild Canadian female house mice.. Physiol Behav 1995 Oct;58(4):669-78.
    doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)00121-Xpubmed: 8559775google scholar: lookup
  30. Watts DP, Mitani JC, Sherrow HM. New cases of inter-community infanticide by male chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda.. Primates 2002 Oct;43(4):263-70.
    doi: 10.1007/BF02629601pubmed: 12426461google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Górecka-Bruzda A, Jaworska J, Stanley CR. The Social and Reproductive Challenges Faced by Free-Roaming Horse (Equus caballus) Stallions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 24;13(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13071151pubmed: 37048406google scholar: lookup
  2. Maeda T, Ochi S, Ringhofer M, Sosa S, Sueur C, Hirata S, Yamamoto S. Aerial drone observations identified a multilevel society in feral horses. Sci Rep 2021 Jan 8;11(1):71.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79790-1pubmed: 33420148google scholar: lookup
  3. Palombit RA. Infanticide as sexual conflict: coevolution of male strategies and female counterstrategies. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2015 May 18;7(6).
    doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a017640pubmed: 25986557google scholar: lookup
  4. Knörnschild M, Ueberschaer K, Helbig M, Kalko EK. Sexually selected infanticide in a polygynous bat. PLoS One 2011;6(9):e25001.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025001pubmed: 21949829google scholar: lookup
  5. Cameron EZ, Setsaas TH, Linklater WL. Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Aug 18;106(33):13850-3.
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.0900639106pubmed: 19667179google scholar: lookup
  6. Smit N. Strategies, costs and counter-strategies to sexual coercion. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2025 Aug;100(4):1557-1577.
    doi: 10.1111/brv.70013pubmed: 40302432google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,928 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.