GENERAL-CHARACTERISTICS OF SOREX-ARANEUS, SOREX CAECUTIENS, SOREX MINUTUS AND SOREX ISODON (INSECTIVORA, SORICIDAE) BEHAVIOR

Behavior of four shrew species is considered. Easily identified by an observer behavioral patterns were distinguished using a test of paring the animals of the same species, which are born in the same year, in the neutral arena. These patterns were grouped according to similarity in their function importance. The studied species were compared by fr equency of behavioral patterns in experiments and by the portion of th e patterns belonged to different functional groups. Among the examined species S, araneus is the least social and the most aggressive specie s which aspires to avoid contacts. S. minutus is a relatively low soci al species of low aggressiveness. The avoidance of direct contacts is characteristic of their behavior. S. isodon is an aggressive and highl y social species. These animals are highly careful to partners, but ha ve a great number of aggressive contacts directed to driving a partner away. The most social and tolerant to conspecies, actively looking fo r contacts is S. caecutiens having a high level of agonistic contacts, the share of direct aggression being low.