Magnetic compass orientation in the subterranean rodent Cryptomys hottentotus (Bathyergidae) - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 1990 May 15;46(5):528-30.

doi: 10.1007/BF01954256.

Affiliations

• PMID: 2347407
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01954256

Magnetic compass orientation in the subterranean rodent Cryptomys hottentotus (Bathyergidae)

H Burda et al. Experientia. 1990.

Abstract

To test whether mole-rats Cryptomys hottentotus were able to use the magnetic field for orientation, laboratory experiments were conducted which were based on the animals' spontaneous tendency to build their nests at the same position in a circular arena. In the local geomagnetic field, the animals preferred the SE-sector. When magnetic north was turned by 120 degrees or by 180 degrees, the mole-rats changed their nest position accordingly. This clearly shows that they can use the magnetic field for direction finding.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

• Magnetic compass orientation in the blind mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi.
  Kimchi T, Terkel J. Kimchi T, et al. J Exp Biol. 2001 Feb;204(Pt 4):751-8. doi: 10.1242/jeb.204.4.751. J Exp Biol. 2001. PMID: 11171357
• Magnetic compass orientation in two strictly subterranean rodents: learned or species-specific innate directional preference?
  Oliveriusová L, Nĕmec P, Králová Z, Sedláček F. Oliveriusová L, et al. J Exp Biol. 2012 Oct 15;215(Pt 20):3649-54. doi: 10.1242/jeb.069625. Epub 2012 Aug 1. J Exp Biol. 2012. PMID: 22855619
• The magnetic compass mechanisms of birds and rodents are based on different physical principles.
  Thalau P, Ritz T, Burda H, Wegner RE, Wiltschko R. Thalau P, et al. J R Soc Interface. 2006 Aug 22;3(9):583-7. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2006.0130. J R Soc Interface. 2006. PMID: 16849254 Free PMC article.
• A behavioral perspective on the biophysics of the light-dependent magnetic compass: a link between directional and spatial perception?
  Phillips JB, Muheim R, Jorge PE. Phillips JB, et al. J Exp Biol. 2010 Oct 1;213(Pt 19):3247-55. doi: 10.1242/jeb.020792. J Exp Biol. 2010. PMID: 20833916 Review.
• Calibration of magnetic and celestial compass cues in migratory birds--a review of cue-conflict experiments.
  Muheim R, Moore FR, Phillips JB. Muheim R, et al. J Exp Biol. 2006 Jan;209(Pt 1):2-17. doi: 10.1242/jeb.01960. J Exp Biol. 2006. PMID: 16354773 Review.

Cited by

• Cattle on pastures do align along the North-South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density.
  Slaby P, Tomanova K, Vacha M. Slaby P, et al. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2013 Aug;199(8):695-701. doi: 10.1007/s00359-013-0827-5. Epub 2013 May 23. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2013. PMID: 23700176
• Oscillating magnetic field disrupts magnetic orientation in Zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata.
  Keary N, Ruploh T, Voss J, Thalau P, Wiltschko R, Wiltschko W, Bischof HJ. Keary N, et al. Front Zool. 2009 Oct 23;6:25. doi: 10.1186/1742-9994-6-25. Front Zool. 2009. PMID: 19852792 Free PMC article.
• Animal transportation networks.
  Perna A, Latty T. Perna A, et al. J R Soc Interface. 2014 Nov 6;11(100):20140334. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0334. J R Soc Interface. 2014. PMID: 25165598 Free PMC article.
• Magnetic field perception in the rainbow trout Oncorynchus mykiss: magnetite mediated, light dependent or both?
  Hellinger J, Hoffmann KP. Hellinger J, et al. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2012 Aug;198(8):593-605. doi: 10.1007/s00359-012-0732-3. Epub 2012 May 17. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2012. PMID: 22592858
• Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields disrupt magnetic alignment of ruminants.
  Burda H, Begall S, Cervený J, Neef J, Nemec P. Burda H, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Apr 7;106(14):5708-13. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811194106. Epub 2009 Mar 19. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009. PMID: 19299504 Free PMC article.

References

1. 1. Nature. 1977 May 12;267(5607):144-5 - PubMed
2. 1. Naturwissenschaften. 1989 Mar;76(3):134-5 - PubMed
3. 1. Physiol Behav. 1988;44(1):91-4 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms