Body-rubbing, marking, and other scent-related behavior in some ground squirrels (Sciuridae), a descriptive study

Abstract

In some ground squirrels, mainly Arctic and Columbian, body-rubbing can be comfort or marking behavior, depending on the context. The mouth-corner apocrine glands are probably involved in individual/group/mother–offspring recognition. These glands are also rubbed against the substrate, particularly by dominant males. This is apparently scent-marking and seems to express territorialism, dominance, and readiness to fight, particularly when accompanied by clawing of the ground, for the latter case. Marking is also performed in neighboring residences, where it frequently involves fighting and chasing away the intruder. The squirrel also rubs its anogenital area against the substrate. A liquid trail (urine? secretion of the anal glands? both?) is left behind, possibly an indicator of sex and (or) reproductive condition. The anal gland papillae pulsate during some agonistic encounters.Extensive scent dissemination and scent-sharing take place between group members and also their habitat. A dorsal-glandular area is also rubbed against the substrate. Both hostile (biting) and friendly (licking, grooming) responses are apparently focused on scent-producing or s cent-bearing body areas.

Seasonal differences in self-grooming in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus

“…Such odors may allow males and females, which do nest together during the breeding season (Madison and McShea 1987), to locate one another more easily, to facilitate assessment of the groomer's odor by nearby opposite-sex conspecifics, and/or to coordinate breeding (Gosling 1990;Gosling and Roberts 2001;Witt et al 1988Witt et al , 1990Paz-y-Miño et al 2002). A similar inference could be drawn from studies that showed that male prairie voles (Ferkin et al 2001), ground squirrels (Steiner 1973(Steiner , 1974, rats (Wiepkema 1979), and hedgehogs (Brockie 1976) spend more time self-grooming when they encounter opposite-sex conspecifics as compared to same-sex conspecifics. We speculate that during the breeding season, self-grooming may be a type of stimulatory or anticipatory response triggered by the scent marks of reproductively active opposite-sex conspecifics.…”

“…We do know that voles and other mammals spend different amounts of time engaged in self-grooming when they encounter the scents of particular conspecifics (Steiner 1973(Steiner , 1974Brockie 1976;Wiepkema 1979;Leonard et al 2005;Ferkin 2005;Ferkin and Leonard 2005). It is possible that the amount of time they do so may reflect the type or the nature of interaction that groomers would have with those conspecifics.…”

“…With the exception of the latter, most individuals engage in self-grooming when they are not in the presence of conspecifics or their odors (Spruijt et al 1992). However, it has been shown that mammals also selfgroom when they encounter the odors of conspecifics (Steiner 1973(Steiner , 1974Bursten et al 2000;Ferkin et al 2001). Much of the current literature provides arguments that self-grooming in response to encountering other individuals is a redirected behavior, i.e., a response to a stressor that has little or no effect on the behavior of both the groomer and nearby individuals (Thor et al 1988;Spruijt et al 1992;Kalueff and Tuohimaa 2004).…”

“…This outcome has been supported by several studies on rodents. For instance, small mammals, such as squirrels and voles, self-groom more when they encounter opposite-sex conspecifics as compared to same-sex conspecifics, mates vs nonmates, and nonsiblings as compared to siblings (Steiner 1973(Steiner , 1974Witt et al 1988Witt et al , 1990Ferkin et al 1996Ferkin et al , 2001Paz-y-Miño et al 2002). Female meadow voles spend more time selfgrooming when they encounter the scents of males that have high titers of both prolactin and testosterone than they did when they encounter the scents of males that have low titers of both prolactin and testosterone .…”

Hormonal Influences on Territorial Marking Behavior

“…Field and laboratory observations also suggest that many marking behaviors develop at puberty and, in some species, show seasonal fluctuations that correspond closely to changes in gonadal activity (see discussions by Mykytowycz, 1970;Steiner, 1974;Thiessen & Rice, 1976). Most of the developmental data, though, are not detailed.…”