Search is the first phase of exploratory behavior, when the animal is moving around the environment attempting to contact relevant stimuli. Search may be interrupted by brief bouts of attend or investigate behaviors when the animal encounters a stimulus. The animal will then return to searching, or move to the next step in the exploration behavior chain (i.e. attend, approach or investigate as appropriate)

Description

Search involves all locomotive behavior, that is not otherwise defined (e.g. fleeing or approach).  Search may be interrupted by brief bouts of attend or investigate behaviors.

Classification

Exploration

Contexts

Exploration occurs in three main contexts, Social, Food, and Environmental. However, the context is not normally apparent until the investigation stage of the behavior chain.

Variants

1. Search - General Locomotion
2. Search - Rearing