Kinship and familiarity as factors affecting social transfer of food preferences in adult Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Experiments were carried out with Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) to assess whether a socially mediated acquisition of diet selection exists in this species. Results showed that a gerbil was influenced in its diet choices by information extracted during a brief period of interaction with a familiar conspecific that had recently eaten a novel food. Data revealed that the acquisition of a food preference from a conspecific depends on the existence of a social bond between the interacting gerbils. Either genetic relatedness (being brother or sister raised in different litters) or familiarity (being bred in the same litter or being member of a reproductive pair) is necessary for the transfer of information. Unfamiliar and unrelated observer gerbils did not selectively choose their demonstrator's food.