Fear in response to the sight of predators is innate rather than acquired
Multiple studies demonstrate that various animal species possess innate, unlearnt behavioral and neural recognition mechanisms for responding to predators and their chemical cues without prior exposure.
The retrieved literature consistently supports the premise that fear and defensive responses to predators (or predator-associated chemical cues such as kairomones) are innate across diverse taxa, including fish, amphibians, and rodents, mediated by unconditioned neural pathways.
Hawkins, Magurran, Armstrong. Innate predator recognition in newly-hatched Atlantic salmon. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539042729694
Demonstrates that newly-hatched Atlantic salmon fry exhibit unlearnt, innate recognition of predator odors.
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Fabrício H. M. Do Monte, Newton Sabino Canteras, Daniel Fernandes, Jamil Assreuy, Antonio P. Carobrez. New Perspectives on β-Adrenergic Mediation of Innate and Learned Fear Responses to Predator Odor. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2843-08.2008
Examines neural mechanisms underlying unconditioned, innate fear responses to predator odors.
Andrea Gazzola, Bianca Guadin, Alessandro Balestrieri, Daniele Pellitteri-Rosa. Multimodal Cues Do Not Improve Predator Recognition in Green Toad Tadpoles. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192603
Shows that toad tadpoles exhibit innate behavioral responses to chemical cues of native predators without prior exposure.
Manjunath D, Sampath H, Kirkwood RN, Santhosh S, Sankarganesh D. Behavioral and neurobiological implications of kairomones for rodents: an updated review.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2025.1485312
Reviews how specialized olfactory networks allow rodents to innately recognize predator-derived kairomones.
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