feeding from the other's mouth
Both of these coyotes were together, chewing on some found food on a patch of dried grasses. As I watched, I was amazed to see one of them approach the other, insert it’s muzzle into the corner of the other’s mouth, raising that upper lip, and retrieve some of the partly chewed food! The coyote with the food allowed it!
They both continued to chew their respective shares, and then the same coyote went back for more, but the feast was finished — there was no more to be taken! Puppies get regurgitated food in this manner from their parents. The behavior seems to continue past the puppy stage. Is it a ritual or communication? Is the behavior a confirmation of unity? Affection? Dominance/submissiveness??
I have read that there are tolerated mouth-to-mouth food transfers in marmosets, and that this behavior occurs irrespective of the animal’s sex or dominant/subordinate status.
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- two coyotes munching
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- heading towards the other coyote
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- eyeing food in the other’s mouth
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- reaching for food from the other
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- reaching for food from the other
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- receiving food from the other’s mouth
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- chewing the food given by the other
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- feeding from the other’s mouth again
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- searching for himself again
