Evidence for scent marking in vervet monkeys?

Freeman, Natalie J.; Pasternak, Graham M.; Rubi, Tricia L.; Barrett, Louise; Henzi, S. Peter

doi:10.1007/s10329-012-0304-8

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…When a male works his way up to alpha status, this position is generally held for a period of 3-5 years (Fairbanks and McGuire, 1986). Males of the species C. aethiops have been observed chest rubbing, which is believed to be a scent-marking behavior associated with higher ranking males (Freeman et al, 2012). One threat gesture used by Chlorocebus spp.…”

Section: Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonhuman Primates

Magden

Mansfield²,

Simmons

et al. 2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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Section: Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonhuman Primates

Magden

Mansfield²,

Simmons

et al. 2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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“…Scent‐marking is a very effective form of communication within habitats that make difficult the detection of visual and auditory signals (Gould & Overdorff, ), which is the case with forests inhabited by lemurs (Sussman, Green, Porton, Andrianasolondraibe, & Ratsirarson, ). In particular, this behavior is reasonably common in lemurs and New World monkeys—among which may play several functions, including the reproductive suppression of subordinate females, advertisement of individual “quality,” preparing males to assist in the delivery and care of newborn infants, and territorial defence (e.g., Gould & Overdorff, ; Heymann, ; Pochron, Morelli, Scirbona, & Wright, )—while is less commonly reported in Old World monkeys and apes (e.g., Freeman, Pasternak, Rubi, Barrett, & Henzi, ). Especially, among strepsirrhines, social complexity may have selected for olfactory complexity in lemurs (delBarco‐Trillo et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in scent‐marking in captive red‐ruffed lemurs

Janda

Perry

Hankinson

et al. 2019

American J Primatol

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Primate chemical communication remains underappreciated, as primates are considered to rely on other sensory modalities. However, various lines of evidence suggest that olfaction plays an important role in primate societies, including the conspicuous scent-marking behavior of many strepsirrhines and callitrichines. Although lemurs typically show scent-marking, little is known about this behavior in red-ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra). We combined behavioral observations and semiochemistry analyses to improve our understanding of scent-marking in two captive troops housed at Dudley and Twycross zoos (UK). We collected olfactory behavioral observations by focusing on two family troops (N = 7) for 132 hr. We investigated the volatile compounds of ano-genital scent-marks using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared volatile chemical profiles with features of the signaller. Males scent-marked most frequently and predominantly in specific meaningful areas of the enclosure, while within females the occurrence of scent-marking was related to their age. We found behavioral sexual dimorphism, with male predominantly depositing secretions via neck and mandible glands and females via ano-genital glands. We identified a total of 32 volatile components of ano-genital gland secretion, including compounds that have already been found in other mammals as sex pheromones and cues to fitness, in ano-genital scent-marks spontaneously left on filter paper by adult females. Our findings suggest that red-ruffed lemurs might use scent-marking to convey information about sex and female age, with male neckmarking behavior playing defensive territorial functions and ano-genital marking related to socio-sexual communication. K E Y W O R D S communication, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, olfaction, signaling, Varecia variegata rubra

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“…The presumed absence of any significant chemical communication in Old World primates is additionally challenged by the existence of specialized scent glands (e.g., gibbon: [Geissman, 1987]; human: [Schaal et al, 2006] and see for a review: [Dixson, 1998]), the display of scent-marking behavior (e.g., vervet monkey: [Freeman et al, 2012]; guenon: [de Jong & Butynski, 2010;Loireau & GautierHion, 1988]), the production of known semiochemicals (e.g., macaque: [Curtis et al, 1971]; human: [Penn et al, 2007]), and the perception of these cues by conspecifics (e.g., macaque: [Laska et al, 2005;Michael & Keverne, 1968]; human: [Wedekind & Furi, 1997]). In no case, however, have these complementary lines of evidence been integrated within a single species.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Charpentier

Mboumba

Ditsoga

et al. 2013

American J Primatol

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Compared to other modes of communication, chemical signaling between conspecifics generally has been overlooked in Old World primates, despite the presence in this group of secretory glands and scent-marking behavior, as well as the confirmed production and perception of olfactory signals. In other mammalian species, flehmen is a behavior thought to transport primarily nonvolatile, aqueous-soluble odorants via specialized ducts to the vomeronasal organ (VNO). By contrast, Old World primates are traditionally thought to lack a functional VNO, relying instead on the main olfactory system to process volatile odorants from their environment. Here, in the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), we document unusual morphological and behavioral traits that typically are associated with the uptake of conspecific chemical cues for processing by an accessory olfactory system. Notably, we confirmed that both sexes possess open nasopalatine ducts and, in response to the presentation of conspecific odorants, we found that both sexes showed stereotyped behavior consistent with the flehmen response. If, as in other species, flehmen in the mandrill serves to mediate social or reproductive information, we expected its occurrence to vary with characteristics of either the signaler or receiver. Flehmen, particularly in a given male, occurred most often in response to odorants derived from male, as opposed to female, conspecifics. Moreover, odorants derived during the breeding season elicited more flehmen responses than did odorants collected during the birthing season. Lastly, odorants from reproductively cycling females also elicited more responses than did odorants from contracepted females. Although confirming a link between the nasopalatine ducts, flehmen behavior, and olfactory processing in mandrills would require further study, our observations provide new information to suggest anatomical variability within Old World primates, calling further attention to the underappreciated role of chemical communication in this lineage.

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Evidence for scent marking in vervet monkeys?

Cited by 17 publications

References 15 publications

Nonhuman Primates

Nonhuman Primates

Sex differences in scent‐marking in captive red‐ruffed lemurs

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

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