1. Scent marking (pasting) in a colony of immature spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta): a developmental study.
- Author
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Woodmansee KB, Zabel CJ, Glickman SE, Frank LG, and Keppel G
- Subjects
- Androgens blood, Animals, Carnivora physiology, Carnivora psychology, Dominance-Subordination, Female, Kenya, Male, Carnivora genetics, Sex Differentiation genetics, Sexual Behavior, Animal physiology, Sexual Maturation genetics, Social Environment
- Abstract
Pasting, a stereotypic form of anal gland scent marking, was studied in 2 cohorts (N = 20) of captive spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). A significant increment in the frequency of pasting occurred in both cohorts as the animals approached sexual maturity; however, gonadectomy during the early juvenile age period had no significant effects on subsequent pasting frequency. Dominant hyenas in both cohorts tended to scent-mark more frequently than subordinates during the late subadult period. Pasting was facilitated by the immediately preceding pasting activities of other hyenas, as has been reported to occur in nature, and olfactory investigation was the most common behavior preceding pasting.
- Published
- 1991
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