Rats connect by tails – what is this called? - briefly
The behavior of rats joining together by their tails is called «tail‑tethering». It occurs mainly in laboratory environments as a form of social interaction.
Rats connect by tails – what is this called? - in detail
Rats sometimes interlock their tails while resting or moving together. This interaction is classified in rodent ethology as «tail‑to‑tail clasping». The term emphasizes the physical connection formed by the posterior appendages rather than any grooming or aggressive act.
The behavior serves several functions:
- Enhances thermal insulation by creating a shared heat‑exchange surface.
- Reinforces social cohesion within a colony, especially among siblings or mates.
- Facilitates synchronized locomotion when groups navigate narrow passages.
Observational studies report that tail‑to‑tail clasping occurs most frequently during the early dark phase, when rodents are most active. The phenomenon is recorded across multiple strains of laboratory rats and in wild populations of Rattus norvegicus, indicating a conserved social strategy.
Neurobiological investigations link the behavior to the release of oxytocin and vasopressin in the brain, hormones associated with pair bonding and group affiliation. Experimental disruption of these pathways reduces the frequency of tail‑to‑tail contact, confirming its hormonal regulation.
In summary, the specific name for the tail‑based connection among rats is «tail‑to‑tail clasping», a socially driven, thermoregulatory, and hormonally mediated interaction observed across diverse rat populations.