Agonistic Behaviour - Agonistic Fighting

Agonistic Fighting

Actual fighting in contests is rare because of the risk of injury with the exception of the rooster or fighting cock. It is most likely to occur when individuals are similarly sized, or when reproduction and survival without the contested resource is less likely. Even when agonism escalates to actual fighting, restraint may be used. This is the case in fights among some male venomous snakes for females. They wrestle, but refrain from biting.