Foot-Scuffing

An individual taking short, shallow steps and purposefully dragging or scuffing the soles of the feet on the ground to create sound. Foot-Scuffing is often used by musth males at close range. Together with visual, vocal and chemical signals, the approaching scuffing steps adds to the male’s ominous display. In a Social Play context, Foot-Scuffing may be employed by Charging youngsters. In an Attacking & Mobbing context Foot-Scuffing may be employed by Charging adults, again for the audible effect.

References: Poole & Granli 2021. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Advertisement & Attraction, Aggressive, Attacking & Mobbing, Conflict & Confrontation, Social Play

Foot-Scuffing

Context: Social Play (1)

A juvenile male playfully threatens the filmmakers by audibly and purposefully crashing through a bush and kicking a branch with his hind-foot - Bush-Bashing and then purposefully and noisily scuffing his feet on the ground as he approaches the car. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)