Investigation of Scents on Cheeks and Foreheads of Large Felines in Connection to the Facial Marking Behavior

Abstract

We investigated head- and cheek-rubbing behavior in four species of large felines, lions (Leo panther), leopards (Panthera pardus), tigers (Panthera tigris), and cougars (Puma concolor), in captivity. Preliminary behavioral observations found that lions and tigers, but not leopards and cougars, showed behavioral responses to cardboard rubbing samples from head and cheek areas from conspecific felines, compared to the blank cardboard controls. In this context, surface samples on the facial areas of each species were collected to analyze volatile organic compounds that could be involved in the facial marking of felines. Previously developed stir bar surface sampling methodology was used. From all cheek and forehead samples, 100 volatile organic compounds were identified or tentatively identified. Among these, 41 have been previously reported to be present in feline urine and marking secretions. Several new compounds were identified on facial surfaces. Some of the compounds showed substantial quantitative differences among the species. One compound, that has not been reported previously in mammals, 3-acetamidofuran, was found in all investigated species. It was synthesized and tested for behavioral responses. No responses were elicited in a preliminary test. Future research will test other potential signaling compounds and their mixtures for ability to elicit behavioral responses.

Characterizing the scent and chemical composition of Panthera leo marking fluid using solid-phase microextraction and multidimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry-olfactometry

“…Lion semiochemicals are excreted through feces, facial rubbing, urine, and marking fluid (MF). However, marking fluid and urine are the most ubiquitous 29–32 . Marking fluid in lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs is comprised of urine and a lipid component 24–41 .…”

“…The lipid bilayer plays a role in release rate/emissions of volatiles from urine into air 13, 37, 40 . Chemical composition can also be potentially confounded by the direction of release and contact with interfering surfaces 29 . Marking fluid in tigers is known to be sprayed in an upward direction yet in lions it can be varied 32 .…”

“…Previously, researchers have chemically characterized volatile constituents of other scent-marking excretions released from lions in their manes 1 , foreheads and cheeks 29 , and urine 33 . Specific compounds are responsible for eliciting behavioral responses, yet studies have generated limited information (i.e., chemical content and scent) on these compounds.…”

Variation in Preen Oil Composition Pertaining to Season, Sex, and Genotype in the Polymorphic White-Throated Sparrow

“…There were too few tan females to determine whether or not they too exhibited a similar pattern. Several invertebrate species, including 3 species of butterflies (Schultz et al 1993) and leaf-cutter ants (Ortius-Lechner et al 2000), as well as many species of lizards (Louw et al 2007) and mammals such as Sika deer (Wood 2003), white-lipped pecari (Waterhouse et al 2001), African wild dog (Apps et al 2012), and lion, leopard, Bengal tiger, and cougar (Soini et al 2012) likely use 2-pentadecanone for intraspecific communication, and it is possible that this compound also serves the same function in the whitethroated sparrow (Table 8). Similarly, octadecanoic acid (stearic acid), which increases in white and tan males during the breeding season, has been assigned with the chemosignaling function in several other taxa ( Table 8).…”

Head Rubbing and Licking Reinforce Social Bonds in a Group of Captive African Lions, Panthera leo

“…When scent marking with urine, a lion either scratches the ground immediately after squatting down to urinate, or sprays urine over objects while in an upright position and with a vertically raised tail [24]. Prior to this scent marking, they often rub their head over the object, and in a recent study, volatile organic compounds from the faces of lions and other large felids were identified [34]. In addition, lions may acquire information on individual identity and reproductive condition by sniffing the hindquarters of the conspecifics they encounter [24].…”