| Summary: | Thirty seven behavior displays integrated into five behavioral groups: filiative, submissive, play, sexual, and agonistic (aggression-defense) behavior, are described from a pack of five mexican wolves (Canis lupus baiieyi) kept in captivity. Display of these five categories was quantified, from October 1985to December 1986. A basíc display pattern on four out of the five groups of behavior studied was found: a significativo increase on the display of these behavioral groups during pre-breeding and breeding seasons on December to February. Play behavior decreased on the breeding season. Filiative behaviors had a strong and significative correlations wrth the agonistic (r=0.92), submissive (r=0.90) and sexual (r=0.82) behavior and no correlation wrth play (r=-0.16). These valúes suggest the importance of the filiative behavior into the social relationships of the group. Aggressive and filiative activities were highty recorded on November 1986, probabty caused by a change on the domínant male of the pack. The importance of social behavior for wolf breeding programs is discussed. Finalty the hypothesis that behavioral strategies of the mexican wolf are different from the strategies wofves on the northern regions present, is stated.
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