ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ethogram

An ethogram is a fancy word for a list of behaviors that scientists use to study animals. Think of it like a secret code that helps scientists communicate about what animals are doing.

Just like humans, animals have different behaviors that they perform like walking, eating or sleeping. Scientists watch animals very closely and write down every behavior they see. Then, they organize all these behaviors into categories and make a list of them.

For example, let's say scientists are watching monkeys in the wild. They will use their ethogram to list all the different behaviors monkeys are performing like swinging, grooming, or vocalizing. They might also note how long each behavior lasts or how often it is repeated.

Ethograms are very useful for scientists because they help them understand the natural behavior of animals. They can learn how animals interact with others of the same species, how they hunt or forage for food, and even how they communicate with each other. So next time you see some animals playing in your backyard or at the zoo, try to make your own ethogram and observe their behaviors.