The behavioural repertoire which mothers exhibit towards, and usually in the presence of, their offspring. These behaviours typically promote the survival, growth and DEVELOPMENT of the offspring and are generally restricted to a limited temporal period following birth. The term usually refers to behavioural features observed in mammalian species although non-mammalian species, (for example birds and reptiles) can also exhibit specific PARENTAL BEHAVIOURS during the period following the birth of their progeny. However, the lactatory (see LACTATION) function characteristic of mammals dictates that mothers are required to maintain a close physical proximity to their offspring to suckle and thus the range of maternal behaviours is most highly developed in mammals. In most (probably all) mammalian species, there are complex, dynamic, reciprocal interactions between mother and neonatal offspring which are definable with respect to specific olfactory, auditory, visual and tactile stimuli and subsequent synchronised physiological, hormonal (see HORMONES) and behavioural responses. Specific maternal behaviours vary from species to species and have probably evolved as a function of differing habitats and survival requirements. The behavioural repertoire is also determined by factors such as the degree of development and independence of the offspring at birth, the rapidity of subsequent maturation and the range of behaviours necessary for survival as an adult, particularly those required to gather food. ALTRICIAL MAMMALS are totally helpless at birth and entirely dependent upon maternal care, even for basic physiological HOMEOSTASIS, such as thermoregulation (see THERMOGENESIS). Typically the eyes are closed and they have minimal capacity to move. Specific maternal behaviours in this case include nest building and assistance with bodily waste elimination. Examples of such atricial mammals include rats, mice, cats and dogs.
PRECOCIAL MAMMALS are capable of weight bearing and even walking when born. Their eyes and ears are open and they are not reliant upon their mothers for thermoregulation or waste elimination. The precocial species tend to be those which live in large social groupings, or herds, and which move over extensive areas to graze. Specific features of maternal behaviour in this instance include a very brief period of nesting and hiding of the offspring before rejoining the herd where membership of the large group confers extra protection from predators. Cows, sheep, and deer are examples of precocial mammals. The remaining group of mammals are the PRIMATES. The helpless offspring cling to the mother’s body, which is typically covered by fur, and are transported around for a period of months until sufficiently independent. However, the young are able to see, to hear and to thermoregulate. These species tend to gather food by FORAGING. Humans differ by the requirement for the mother to cradle their offspring to facilitate feeding.
