First record of interspecific allopreening among Gyps vultures in the Aravalli Range, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9950.18.9.29721-29728Keywords:
Aggression, behaviour, competition, Gyps fulvus, Gyps himalayensis, Gyps indicus, interaction, natural habitat, self-preening, social structureAbstract
We report an observation of interspecific allopreening behaviour among the Indian Vulture Gyps indicus, Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis, and Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus in the village of Kailashpuri in the Udaipur District of Rajasthan. A total of 623 seconds of interspecific allopreening behaviour was recorded. In the first instance, a G. indicus preened the neck of a G. himalayensis for 296 seconds; in another instance, a G. fulvus preened the neck of a G. indicus for 162 seconds; and further, a G. fulvus preened the neck and shoulder of a G. himalayensis for 165 seconds. All three species also engaged in self-preening activity during the observation period; G. indicus spent the maximum time (376 seconds), followed by G. fulvus (300 seconds), and G. himalayensis spent the minimum time in self-preening (257 seconds). This is the first documented record of interspecific allopreening behaviour among these vulture species in India. This observation contributes to interspecific interactions that are important for understanding the complex social structures between G. indicus and G. himalayensis and G. fulvus in their natural habitat. Interspecific allopreening is a complex ecological behaviour that contributes to individual health by managing parasites and fostering social tolerance, thereby reducing competition and aggression within the community. Although the functional significance of the behaviour could not be determined from this single observation, interspecific allopreening may have hygienic and social functions similar to those across species boundaries in wild birds.
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