Behaviour of the Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss), in Captivity IV.* Scent-Marking

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Smith
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Sternal Gland ◽  
Displaced Aggression ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Rival Male ◽  
Agonistic Encounters

Male koalas scent-mark by grasping a vertical object, generally a tree, and rubbing the sternal gland against it. The behaviour first appears at 3 y of age, and reaches a peak a year or two later. It is frequently performed in conjunction with bellowing, especially in response to agonistic encounters or the bellow of a rival male, and often by itself in circumstances where a bellow might be expected. It is sometimes a response to unfamiliar surroundings or objects, and otherwise is performed by a male moving about a pen. Scent-marking may primarily be a response to unfamiliarity which, having become associated with displaced aggression, has been entrained to the bellowing drive.

Methods of scent marking in the domestic cat

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1093-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary N. Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Tree Bark ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Felis Silvestris ◽  
Felis Silvestris Catus ◽  
The Face ◽  
Visual Mark

Carnivores use various scent-marking methods. Semi-feral domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) were observed to use the same means as their wild counterparts. Adult males performed most urine spray marking. Cats scratched tree bark, producing a visual mark, and probably used trees both as markers and for claw sharpening. Most scratching trees were located along frequently used paths rather than along territorial boundaries or scattered randomly throughout a home range. Bark consistency affected the tree species that were scratched, with soft bark preferred. Although deposition of faeces and urine was recorded, there was no clear evidence for their use as territorial markers; cats primarily eliminated away from the core area of the home range. Most faeces were buried, although exposed deposits were also observed. Cats also rubbed against objects, probably using glandular secretions from the face and tail areas to scent mark. Males rubbed objects more than females, and males scent marked more. Individual males may use different means of scent marking. Scent marking in this study supports the idea that cats do not defend territories, instead patrolling and reinforcing marks throughout a looser home range. The suggestion has been made that different forms of marking may serve separate signalling functions.

Behaviour of the Koala, Phascolarctos Cinereus Goldfuss, in Captivity. 2. Parental and Infantile Behaviour.

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Smith
Keyword(s):  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
In Captivity

2. Young koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) began to eat leaves after they left the pouch but before they left the mother's back. The oldest seen sucking was about 13 months old and small for its age. Young koalas still in or returning to the pouch, one of them 240 days old, were seen to eat faeces directly from the mother; adults did not practise coprophagy.

scholarly journals The effect of neighbouring klipspringer on the scent–marking behaviour of a group of klipspringer in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kruger ◽  
J. Du P. Bothma ◽  
J.M. Kruger
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Marking Behaviour ◽  
Strip Transect

Both the male and the female klipspringer scent-mark their ranges. A pair of pre-orbital glands below the eyes produces the scent. The secretion is a sticky, substance that is deposited on a suitable twig. Klipspringer scent marks were surveyed in a specific klipspringer range in the Kruger National Park with the use of a strip transect method. The results showed that klipspringer in the Kruger National Park scent-mark more frequently on the boundaries of their ranges and also more on those sides where there is another resident klipspringer group.

Behaviour of the Koala, Phascolarctos Cinereus Goldfuss, in Captivity. 1. Non-Social Behaviour.

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
In Captivity

1. Feeding behaviour of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) was observed at a sanctuary near Brisbane, Australia. They fed sporadically throughout the day, for a total of at least 19 h daily, on leaves; they ingested soil and gravel, and drank water when it was provided, but infrequently. Young were seen to leave the pouch at 220 days old and to eat leaves at 217 days old. None under 10 months old was seen to pull leaves forward before biting them.

SCENT MARKING IN MEADOW VOLES AND PRAIRIE VOLES: A TEST OF THREE HYPOTHESES

Behaviour ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 138 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1319-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Mech ◽  
M.H. Ferkin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Avoidance Response ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Marking Behaviour

AbstractMost terrestrial mammals deposit scent marks to communicate with conspecifics. We examined the scent marking behaviour of meadow voles and prairie voles, species with different mating systems and social organizations, to determine whether voles scent mark according to the 'targeting' response, the 'avoidance' response, or the 'shotgun' response. The targeting response occurs when the second scent donor deposits more of its scent marks in an area marked by the first scent donor than in an unscented area. The avoidance response occurs when the second scent donor deposits more of its scent marks in an unscented area than in an area marked by the first scent donor. The shotgun response occurs when the second scent donor deposits a similar number of its scent marks in an area containing scent marks of a conspecific and in an area containing no conspecific scent marks. We allowed voles simultaneous access to an arena containing two arms: one of the arms was scented by a conspecific and the other arm was unscented. We recorded the number of marks deposited by the voles in each arm and the amount of time they spent investigating marks deposited previously in the scented arm. Our data provide no support for the avoidance response, but provide support for the shotgun response and the target response. Species and sex differences in the scent marking behaviours of voles when they encounter the scent marks of conspecifics are discussed within the framework that scent marking responses depend on the voles' social organization and mating system, and that these responses may reflect the tactics males and females use to attract mates and compete with same-sex conspecifics.

Behaviour of the Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss), in Captivity VI*. Aggression

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Smith
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Motor Pattern ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Aggressive Interactions ◽  
Single Motor ◽  
Low Level ◽  
In Captivity

'In a colony of captive koalas, all aggressive behaviour was a variation on the single motor pattern of throwing a foreleg around an opponent and biting. Squabbles (the most common aggressive behaviour) were brief, low level interactions usually arising from the efforts of one koala to climb past or over another. Minor fghts involved only single bites and the combatants stayed in the same place; major ,fights involved multiple bites and changes of position. Dependent young were seldom involved in aggression. Between males. minor fights were essentially intensified squabbles, but major fights involved wrestling and chasing; they were more likely between males unfamiliar with each other, or those already aroused by, e.g., other aggressive interactions. Females became aggressive especially during pregnancy and at the end of lactation. At such times they stood their ground and vocalized at other koalas, especially males, but attacked only if the opponent came within reach. Although the opponent usually withdrew. sometimes a male seemed provoked to attack. Males sometimes attacked females without obvious provocation. Aggression was slightly more common in than outside the breeding season. Competition for females or food, dominance hierarchies, appeasement, and the defence of young were not seen.

scholarly journals Pregnancy is detected via odour in a wild cooperative breeder

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 20170441 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mitchell ◽  
M. A. Cant ◽  
H. J. Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Alloparental Care ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Reproductive State ◽  
Reproductive Suppression ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
Direct Demonstration ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Banded Mongoose ◽  
Mungos Mungo

Among mammals, scent has long been known to encode oestrus; however, in many species, detecting pregnancy may also be important in terms of both competition and mate-choice. Here, we show, through odour presentation experiments, that pregnancy is discernible via scent by both sexes in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose, Mungos mungo . Males spent more time investigating and were more likely to scent mark the odours of non-pregnant females, compared to pregnant females. Females showed increased levels of scent marking when odours were of the same reproductive state as themselves. These results present the first direct demonstration that pregnancy is detectable via scent in wild cooperative breeders. Detecting pregnancy may be particularly important in cooperative breeders as, in addition to the competition between males for receptive mates, there is also intense competition between females for access to alloparental care. Consequently, dominant females benefit from targeting reproductive suppression towards subordinates that represent direct threats, such as pregnant females.

Behavioral interactions differentiate Djungarian (Phodopus campbelli) and Siberian (Phodopus sungorus) hamsters

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 2229-2235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards ◽  
Robert D. Lisk
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Djungarian Hamster ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
Behavioral Interactions ◽  
Phodopus Campbelli ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Home Area ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Serious Injury

Male–male and female–female dyads of two species of Phodopus, the Djungarian hamster, P. campbelli, and the Siberian hamster, P. sungorus, interacted daily for 10 min on each of 4 successive days. Animals were acclimatized to large habitats which contained small, defensible nest boxes. Real time behavioral records were kept of agonistic, social, and scent marking behaviors. The results indicated that there were major behavioral differences between P. campbelli and P. sungorus in their agonistic interactions with like-sexed conspecifics. Male P. campbelli were significantly more aggressive towards conspecific males than male P. sungorus, attacking (19.7 ± 2.2 vs. 9.6 ± 1.2) and biting (30.0 ± 4.6 vs. 12.7 ± 2.1) more often, and could inflict serious injury. Conversely, female P. campbelli were less aggressive than female P. sungorus towards like-sexed conspecifics, attacking (2.6 ± 0.7 vs. 7.5 ± 1.5) and biting (1.0 ± 0.4 vs. 2.4 ± 0.6) less frequently. The absolute levels of aggression were higher for males than for females although the magnitude of the difference was much less in P. sungorus than in P. campbelli. Dominant animals showed a tendency to spend most of the time available in the home area of the subordinate animal and to scent mark more frequently while there. The time distributions of dominant and subordinate animals within pairs (except for P. sungorus males) were significantly positively correlated. Dominant animals of both sexes scent marked with similar frequencies. When interpreted in light of the literature concerning the possible social structure of Djungarian hamster populations, this study suggests that the differences between the two species are sufficiently large that it is important to carefully distinguish between them in the published record.

Female Urinary Chemosignals Influence Scent-Marking Behavior in Male Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 936-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bodo Probst
Keyword(s):  
Direct Contact ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Meriones Unguiculatus ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Mongolian Gerbils ◽  
Similar Increase ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Female Urine ◽  
Urinary Chemosignals

Abstract The influence of females on the amount of scent-marking behavior displayed by male Mongolian gerbils was investigated. Males isolated from females scent mark at a low level which increases more than two-fold if females are present in the room for three weeks without direct contact with the males. A similar increase is obtained by application of pooled female urine directly onto the males’ noses.

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