The tendency of an animal to hug vertical surfaces, especially in a situation of anxiety or potential danger.
I came across this word when reading about house mice, but many kinds of animal exhibit this behaviour. I think we do; if I were exploring an unfamiliar open field with boundary hedges I’d probably follow the perimeter at first, even without any overhead threat.
Word of the day - Thigmotaxis
The tendency of an animal to hug vertical surfaces, especially in a situation of anxiety or potential danger.
I came across this word when reading about house mice, but many kinds of animal exhibit this behaviour. I think we do; if I were exploring an unfamiliar open field with boundary hedges I’d probably follow the perimeter at first, even without any overhead threat.