Alpha (ethology)

Alpha animal referred to in the behavioral sciences, the herd leader of a herd or a pack. Alpha males are the strongest, most experienced and active animals of group usually. Often they are also the oldest and the only male of their group, the young witness. In domestic cattle, for example, a strong bull is the alpha male, the leading bull, with the gorillas of the so-called silverbacks.

The term alpha male is derived from Alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet: Alpha males are thus the "first" (read: in the pecking order at the highest standing ) animals of their group. According to them the rank immediately following animals beta males or females are called beta and standing in last place in the hierarchy of Omega animals.

In many gregarious species, the females and the males have their own hierarchy: in these cases is defined as the highest-ranking males as an alpha male and the highest-ranking females as alpha female; together they form the alpha pair. An example of this variant of coexistence are the roan antelope and the African wild dog.

In herd animals such as the mouflon, the Przewalski's horses, mountain zebras and plains zebras an alpha female leads the herd. Also, spotted hyenas and lemurs are led by female lead animals.

Wolves was also attributed for years that their herds are dominated by an alpha male. However, long-term observations of free-ranging wolves showed a social structure in which the lead animals ( the parents ) meet the primary management task, but only situational authoritarian occur.

Transfer the name to the people

Leaders are often occupied with the term " alpha male " to characterize their position within a group or movement. In this case, the term has sometimes positive, sometimes a negative connotation. In the negative sense alpha animal may be significant with similar authoritarian, not willing to compromise or make you hungry.