Devices and methods for analyzing animal behavior

A method of collecting behavior information of an animal, the method comprising:

• capturing a first image of at least one of a head, body and tail of the animal when the animal is illuminated with a first light;
• capturing a second image of both a profile of a full footprint of the animal and a profile of a toe print of the animal when a second light is totally internally reflected within the base surface to generate evanescent light between the footprint and the toe print of the animal and the base surface;
• identifying a first footprint in the first image;
• and
• measuring a corresponding evanescent light generated between the identified first footprint and the base surface in the second image.

A device for detecting and recording animal behavior, the device comprising:

• at least one corral defining a contained field, a base surface of the at least one corral being sensitive to a footprint of the animal;
• and
• an image capturing device cooperating with the base surface to capture both a profile of a full footprint of the animal and a profile of a toe print of the animal when the animal is standing on its toes;
• wherein a first light is totally internally reflected within the base surface;
• wherein a second light illuminates at least one of a tail, body and head of the animal from below the animal.