Animal Personalities Vary Widely—even Within the Same Species

People have vastly different personalities. While some are selfish and try to take advantage of others, some are altruistic and give far too much to others. According to a newly published book, animals also have markedly different personalities even within the same species.

Biologist John Shivik, author of “Mousy Cats and Sheepish Coyotes,” wrote in the book that “the concept of animal temperament is already well known among pet owners,” adding, “This is not a new idea.”

He explained why bluebirds with the most masculine temperaments do not court females, why the personalities of some dolphins changed after Hurricane Katrina, and why coyotes have “polarized” temperaments.

He cited the western bluebird as an example. People might assume that aggressive male bluebirds would take the lead in mating, but these dominant males actually spend much of their time engaged in “dominance struggles.” As a result, they are less productive when it comes to breeding. However, the bluebird species’ aggressive nature helps it establish itself in new territories.

Shivik also discussed “polarized” coyotes. Some coyotes are very timid and submissive, while others are highly aggressive. Emphasizing differences between individuals, Shivik said, “Some coyotes have been observed charging at and biting whoever they confront.”

Shivik also described dolphins with “easygoing” temperaments that were raised in a marine aquarium. He said that all the dolphins housed at the facility “went through a traumatic event, and the temperaments of some of them changed dramatically.” In other words, they experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, much like humans do.

He added, “The more we learn about animals, the more we will be able to learn about people as well.”