Baxter, S. Klein, M. Dunn, J. Harrison, L. Fox, T.
This study examines the behavioral patterns of mongooses in the context of game theory. We utilize various game models to analyze their decision-making and strategic interactions when it comes to foraging and social play. Our research indicates that mongooses display a certain level of rationality and are highly sensitive to social cues, much like their human counterparts. We also find that when faced with an opponent who has a significant advantage, mongooses resort to cute and distracting tactics such as rolling around on the ground or staring off into the distance. Our findings suggest that future studies on animal behavior should take into account the lovable and unpredictable nature of mongooses.