Magnetic alignment in warthogs Phacochoerus africanus and wild boars Sus scrofa

Abstract
Magnetic alignment (MA) results from the preference of animals to align themselves along the field lines of the geomagnetic field, a behavioural expression of a magnetic sense. MA is well documented for ruminants and might demonstrate a general magnetic sensory ability among artiodactyls. We measured body‐axis alignment in 1614 foraging or resting wild boars Sus scrofa, 1849 wild boar beds, and 1347 warthogs Phacochoerus africanus, and found a highly significant north–south preference. The magnetic field was the only common denominator of all observations. Thus, we provide the first data suggesting a magnetic sense in the Suidae.

Source: Mammal Review - June 20, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Jaroslav Červený, Hynek Burda, Miloš Ježek, Tomáš Kušta, Václav Husinec, Petra Nováková, Vlastimil Hart, Veronika Hartová, Sabine Begall, E. Pascal Malkemper Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research