Principles of Animal Behavior

This textbook on animal behavior is designed for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in veterinary science, animal science, and zoology and offers an integrated view of behavioral biology, bridging classical ethology, cognitive neuroscience, and ecological adaptation with practical veterinary applications. The initial chapters provide foundational aspects such as orientation, motivation, and communication before moving into core themes of learned behavior, cognition, social dynamics, reproduction, and courtship. It further addresses applied behavioral contexts in veterinary practice, including stress and welfare indicators, the impact of hormones and drugs, and human–animal interactions. The final sections explore ecological and evolutionary behavior, including movement, habitat selection, and behavioral responses to altered ecosystems. Emphasizing both theoretical depth and practical application, the book provides students and professionals with a modern, interdisciplinary perspective on the role of behavior in animal health, welfare, and survival. Key feature: 1) Provides an overview of animal behavior, covering foundational principles, learning and cognition, social dynamics, reproductive strategies, and ecological interactions. 2) Addresses complex behavioural phenomena such as social dominance, reproductive strategies, maternal investment, altruism, and host–parasite interactions within both naturalistic and managed settings 3) Explains the evolutionary and physiological basis of behaviour, drawing upon current understanding in genetics, endocrinology, neuroethology, and environmental biology 4) Examines behavioural responses to environmental pressures, including migration, habitat selection, anthropogenic disturbance, and ecosystem alterations 5) Incorporates the impact of exogenous influences such as hormone therapy, drug administration, and human–animal interactions on behavioural outcomes Short Blurb This veterinary textbook for postgraduate students presents an in-depth overview of animal behavior, combining ethological theory, behavioral neuroscience, and veterinary applications. It explores cognition, communication, stress responses, social behavior, and ecological adaptations, making it an important resource for students and professionals in veterinary and animal sciences. Seasonal Blurb This textbook for advanced graduate and postgraduate veterinary students introduces animal behavior through a modern lens, integrating classical ethology with veterinary, ecological, and neurophysiological insights. Designed for advanced veterinary and life science students, it covers foundational concepts such as orientation, motivation, and communication and extends into complex areas including social structure, cognitive behavior, stress and welfare indicators, pharmacological impacts, and reproductive strategies. The ecological dimension explores behavior in response to environmental shifts, host–parasite interactions, and conservation. It is useful for students and professionals in veterinary and animal sciences.

Author Biography

Tanmoy Rana obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry degree (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) and Master’s (M.V.Sc) in Veterinary Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence from West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India. He secured his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Veterinary Science from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India. He works currently as Assistant Professor of Veterinary Clinical Complex at West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India. Previously, he has also worked as a Veterinary Officer, Animal Resources Development Department, Government of West Bengal, India. He is actively engaged in teaching and clinical practices in veterinary medicine and research related to animal health, production, and disease monitoring regimes. His research interests involve arsenic toxicity, molecular diagnosis, molecular toxicology and medicine, oxidative stress, immunopathology, nanoparticles, Echinococcosis, and microbes. He has published several research articles in reputed international and national journals, along with review articles in international journals. He is an editorial board member (especially BMC Veterinary Research, Associate Editor of Frontier in Veterinary Science) and reviewer of international and national journals. He is a member of many international scientific societies and organizations, importantly the West Bengal Veterinary Council (WBVC), the Indian Society for Veterinary Medicine (ISVM), the Association of Public Health Veterinarians, and the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). He is also an associate of the West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology, West Bengal, India.