Capture Order Across Social Bathyergids Indicates Similarities in Division of Labour and Spatial Organisation

The social mole-rats of the family Bathyergidae show elaborate organisation that may include division labour between breeders and non-breeders as well across within their groups. However, comparative behavioural data taxa are rare contrasts similarities species poorly understood. Field studies bathyergids usually involve capturing all group members until entire is captured. Because each animal only captured once traps typically placed in close proximity to active foraging areas, order which animals provides an indication activity different individuals spatial burrow system. Here, we compare association capture with breeding status, sex, body mass four subspecies bathyergids, vary size represent three genera Bathyergidae. We naked Damaraland ( Heterocephalus glaber Fukomys damarensis ), male female later than non-breeders, whereas two genus Cryptomys non-breeders. effect sizes largely 10 times larger compared 3–4 . Among sex effects notably absent predicted both mole-rats. In mole-rats, were earlier smaller ones, intermediate-sized first. Our suggest there structure bathyergid species, though most pronounced differences groups found