Quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) demonstrate tactile discrimination learning and serial-reversal learning.
Two male quokkas (Setonix brachyurus: a herbivorous macropod marsupial) were trained to discriminate pairs of stimuli in the laboratory. Quokkas indicated their choice by pulling on 1 of 2 simultaneously presented cords. The quokkas' discrimination abilities were tested on 6 tactile and 6 visual discrimination tasks. Correct responses were rewarded with food. For both quokkas, all tactile tasks were learned to a criterion of 75% correct in up to 4 20-trial sessions. No visual task maintained criterion performance in 4 sessions. One tactile discrimination was reversed 10 times. After the 1st reversal, the error rate declined sharply and fell to a level well below the initial discrimination.
Bonney
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KR
Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia. kathryn@psy.uwa.edu.au
Wynne
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CD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012193:Reversal Learning; D014110:Touch; D014785:Vision, Ocular