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The Well-Connected Animal: Social Networks and the Wondrous Complexity of Animal Societies

by Lee Alan Dugatkin

The social webs of animal life

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Hardcover New English

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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Starred review from Library Journal

    Library Journal calls the book an exceptionally intriguing and thorough explanation of animal behavior; the sour...

AlbakiReads Editorial

The social webs of animal life

Animal behavior takes shape within networks of relationships: access to shared food, learned information, grooming alliances, and remembered contests can all depend on connections among individuals. Lee Alan Dugatkin surveys examples across species and continents, from vampire bats and field crickets to macaques and great tits. The book introduces animal social-network research through findings drawn from fields including evolutionary biology, computer science, psychology, genetics, and neurobiology, alongside conversations with researchers studying animals in the field. Its broad range makes the central subject clear: social connections are not uniquely human, and they can influence how animals interact and navigate their environments.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in animal behavior and wildlife across many species.
  • Readers curious about social networks beyond human society.
  • Readers seeking an accessible introduction to interdisciplinary research on animal societies.

Themes

Animal social networksBehavior and evolutionLearning and information-sharingCooperation and social relationships

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"Combines accessible prose with solid science."--Wall Street Journal - "Demonstrates that whatever creature you are--from a giraffe to a Tasmanian devil--life is all about who you know."--New Scientist - "Fascinating. . . . Easily the most intriguing, thorough explanation of animal behavior ever produced."--Library Journal (starred review) - "This book makes a fitting companion to Ed Yong's An Immense World. An entertaining tour of what we learn as we eavesdrop on the non-human conversations all around us."--Kirkus Reviews - "Terrific."--Booklist

An engaging exploration of the wondrous social webs that permeate life in animal societies around the world.


It's all about who you know. Whether vampire bats sharing blood meals for survival, field crickets remembering champion fighters, macaque monkeys forming grooming pacts after a deadly hurricane, or great tit birds learning the best way to steal milk--it pays to be well connected.

In this tour of the animal kingdom, evolutionary biologist Lee Alan Dugatkin reveals a new field of study, uncovering social networks that existed long before the dawn of human social media. He accessibly describes the latest findings from animal behavior, evolution, computer science, psychology, anthropology, genetics, and neurobiology, and incorporates interviews and insights from researchers he finds swimming with manta rays, avoiding pigeon poop, and stopping monkeys from stealing iPads. With Dugatkin as our guide, we investigate social networks in giraffes, elephants, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, whales, bats, and more. From animal networks in Australia and Asia to Africa, Europe, and the Americas, The Well-Connected Animal is an eye-opening expos
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