HIERARCHICAL FEEDING BEHAVIOUR IN LEOPARD FROG (RANA-PIPIENS)

Hierarchical feeding orders are expressed in grouped leopard frogs by an increasing stability of rank ordering in respect to frequency of capturing worms. The feeding hierarchy reaches significant reliability only after frogs are housed together for several months. Frogs which obtain worms most quickly tend to weigh the most and show the greatest degree of accuracy. Hierarchical feeding behaviours are primarily subtle, including pushing and climbing in an apparent attempt to gain position to jump at the worm. Occasional instances of nipping occur in closely competitive frogs after the worm has been ingested. © 1969.