Abstract: Mounting evidence has shown that animal personality is correlated with behavior, physiology, genetics and ecological adaptation. However, most studies about animal personality focus on non-mammals, with limited understanding on mammals (especially small mammals). Here, we review the origin of animal personality conception and the establishment of research methods. From the perspective of ecological adaptation, we summarized the research progress of behavior (including foraging, reproduction, dispersal and group living), physiology and genetic consequences of animal personality in small mammals. Furthermore, we summarized current research status of two important hypotheses about the adaptive mechanisms of animal personality, “the pace of life syndrome” hypothesis and “the state-behavior feedback” hypothesis. Finally, we discussed and prospected the possible future developments of animal personality research in small mammals.

Key words: personality, personality measurement, ecological adaptation, physiological mechanism, small mammal.