International Journal of Comparative Psychology

Exploratory behavior is a commonly used instrument in the study of animal behavior in the laboratory, usually using rodents. The goal of the present study was to investigate the exploratory behavior of woodlice (Armadillidium vulgare) and compare to the behavior of rats (Rattus norvegicus). For this, we used two of two common rat laboratory tests: the square open-field and another inspired in the rat Light/Dark box. In a first test, rats were submitted to a square open-field; woodlice were also submitted to an open-field adapted to their size. In a second test, rats were submitted to a Light/Dark box and the woodlice were submitted to a Dry/Moist box designed to be equivalent to the rat apparatus but adapted to woodlice size. Results of the first test showed both rats and woodlice explored the square open-fields in similar ways, both in terms of frequencies of entries in the areas and also in terms of the time spent in them. Subjects of both species occupied the corners more than the areas close to the walls and these more than the central areas. Results of the second test showed a striking resemblance: Both species spent more time in the safe areas (dark or moist) and less time in the aversive areas (light or dry). Given this similarity, woodlice could be used as laboratory animals for behavioral studies with the advantages of occupying little room in animal places, are easy to catch in many places around university campuses and cost little to be fed.