Grooming

Grooming is the removal of dirt, debris, and parasites from an animal’s body, by itself or another animal. In social species, grooming can also strengthen relationships and reduce tension.

Licking: The use of the tongue to clean, moisten, or explore a surface. Many mammals lick fur to remove debris and parasites.
Social grooming: Grooming between members of a social group, often maintaining relationships or reducing conflict. It captures the social functions of grooming beyond cleaning.
Tactile communication: The exchange of information through physical contact. Grooming communicates affiliation through sustained touch.
Grooming in primates: Cleaning and affiliative behavior among primates, often involving manual inspection and picking. Primates provide well-studied examples of grooming’s hygienic and social roles.
Allogrooming: Grooming performed by one individual on another of the same species. It is the social form of grooming between animals.
Grooming coalition: A pattern in which grooming relationships contribute to alliances among group members. Grooming can help establish and maintain cooperative partnerships.
Grooming site: A body region selected for cleaning or parasite removal. Accessible and parasite-prone body regions shape grooming behavior.
Grooming in rodents: Self-cleaning and partner-directed cleaning behaviors found in rodents. Rodents illustrate grooming in both individual maintenance and social care.
Autogrooming: Self-directed cleaning and maintenance of an animal’s body. It contrasts with grooming performed on a social partner.
Parasite removal: The removal of parasites from a host by behavior, grooming, or another agent. Grooming can lower parasite burdens for the groomer or its partner.

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