Scent rubbing

Last updated
A bobcat (Lynx rufus) near a scent rubbing post. Bobcats display cheek rubbing to scent mark in the wild. Bobcat rubbing scent post (6492408845).jpg
A bobcat (Lynx rufus) near a scent rubbing post. Bobcats display cheek rubbing to scent mark in the wild.

Scent rubbing is a behavior where a mammal rubs its body against an object in their environment, sometimes in ones covered with strongly odored substances. It is typically shown in carnivores, although many mammals exhibit this behavior. Lowering shoulders, collapsing the forelegs, pushing forward and rubbing the chin, temples, neck, or back is how this act is performed. A variety of different odors can elicit this behavior including feces, vomit, fresh or decaying meat, insecticide, urine, repellent, ashes, human food and so on. [2] [3] Scent rubbing can be produced by an animal smelling novel odors, which include manufactured smells such as perfume or motor oil and carnivore smells including feces and food smells. [2]

Contents

Scent rubbing is often performed with scent marking and self-anointing, and is typically used by animals to scent mark an object in their surroundings. This marking can be used as a means of communication between species. [4] [5] Many different species of felids, monkeys, bears, wolves and marmots have primarily been used to study scent rubbing in carnivores. [6] [7] [8] Differences in gender and age exist for scent rubbing, with adults and males performing the behavior more frequently than juveniles and females in many species. [9] [10] [4] [8] [6]

Species

Felidae

Many carnivorous felids scent rub. Felids are able to discriminate between similar smelling odors using the vomeronasal organ, which is important for eliciting scent rubbing. [6] The rubbing behavior is often performed as a means of scent-marking. [11]

The opening of the vomeronasal organ, used by felids and other species to discriminate between different odours during scent rubbing. Nasopalatine and vomeronasal duct.png
The opening of the vomeronasal organ, used by felids and other species to discriminate between different odours during scent rubbing.

Domestic cat

Domestic cats display scent rubbing. The cheeks, abdomen, paws, above tail and around the anus contain organs that produce scent. When a cat is comfortable with their surroundings and environment, they release the feline facial pheromone during facial rubbing in order to leave this pheromone on the objects around them. [6] Cats scent rub against objects as a means of marking by releasing pheromones with glandular secretions, and information about the animal's age, sex, and identity can be obtained from these secretions. [5] [11]

Domestic cats will more frequently rub against an object that is new to their environment. When an object is induced with the scent of another animal it causes an increase in rubbing as it contains sensory properties that are not familiar to the cat. [12] When a cat is presented with an object treated with scent gland secretions from both a rat and snake, the cat will forcefully scent rub its head against it. [12] [13] Mutual face rubbing behavior between cats in groups and cats rubbing against their owners may be a form of social bonding. During rubbing against humans, cats tend to use the temporal gland area which consists of the cheek, between the eye and the ear. [11]

Leopard

Kalahari leopards use trees in their environment to scent rub. When the backs and flanks are rubbed against trees it is most often related to itching rather than scent rubbing, but when rubbing to scent mark is used it is mostly demonstrated by males when mating. It is suggested that this rubbing behavior is a form of chemical communication regarding female attention. [14]

Bears

A grizzly bear rubbing a tree Grizzly bear rubbing on a tree (Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project) (4428171412).jpg
A grizzly bear rubbing a tree

Bears rub against the ground, trees and rocks in order to scent mark. This is the most frequent way that bears mark their surroundings. Black bears rub their cheeks, back, neck and head against trees in a bipedal stance. This act is noted most often during the breeding season for grizzly and black bears as a form of communication. The behavioral aspect of scent rubbing is shown during interspecific interactions between these bears, as black bears are found to decrease their tree rubbing once a grizzly has already done so. [8] The Andean bear scent rubs against trees at marking sites by rubbing its neck, shoulders, flanks or back. Sometimes this species marks the tree with its claws or urinates while rubbing. The behavior in this species is thought to be linked to intraspecific communication. This communication lets other bears know whose territory it is. [15]

New World monkeys

The rubbing behaviors of the Southern brown howler monkeys are linked to scent marking. Throat (facial and neck), anal, dorsal, chest and chin rubbing has been observed in Alouatta and is mostly performed while sitting. Like felids, howler monkeys use their vomeronasal sensory organs to distinguish pheromones. Dominant howlers of both male and female genders scent rub and mark more than subordinate conspecifics. Anogenital rubbing in monkeys is associated with cleaning after defecation and urination and also deposits the animals scent for other species to notice. [16]

Black-handed spider monkeys are another Atelidae species which display fur rubbing against the leaves of Rutaceae plants. Their scent rubbing behaviour resembles those shown by white-faced capuchins, often done by many individuals simultaneously, creating an interaction among their population and may function in scent marking and olfactory communication. [7] Woolly monkeys also show scent rubbing in the form of chest rubbing that suggests the behaviour has a reproductive function. The reasoning for chest rubbing in woolly monkeys is similar to the throat rubbing displayed by howler monkeys during mating season. Rubbing behaviour in woolly monkeys has also been linked to dominance and social communication. [17]

Gray wolf

Gray wolves scent rub to a large variety of odors including urine, perfumes, repellant, ashes, human handled objects, food, and resting sites. They scent rub intensively to manufactured smells such as motor oil and carnivore scents such as feces of other animals including black bear and cougars. The reason behind scent rubbing in wolves is unknown, but it is suggested that they use it to remember odors experienced in their environment, whether new or familiar. [2]

Marmot

Marmots slowly rub their faces from mouth to ears on objects repeatedly as a form of scent rubbing called cheek rubbing. This behavior is common, and the objects are typically stones, rocks and the ground around burrows. They conduct this behavior to scent mark, and when interrupted fights can occur. Marmots scent rub on new objects within their home environment. [10]

Communication

An elk rubbing a tree Grand Canyon Nat Park Elk Rubbing Face on Tree 0089 (7088553131).jpg
An elk rubbing a tree

Scent rubbing can be used as a form of communication between many terrestrial mammals. [5] This method is used to send messages, find mates and to keep away from areas where others have foraged. Odours produced by sweat glands, urine, feces and vaginal secretions often induce this behavior, which is prominent in carnivore species. [3] [5] Scent rubbing by males in many species is related to intrasexual communication and social interaction, such as the social status the animal holds in that population. [16] Carnivores often scent rub as a mechanism of olfactory communication in which they release chemical odours to increase odds of being detected by conspecifics. [14]

Spider monkeys rub saliva onto their sternal region and then rub this area against a tree, which may serve as a form of olfactory communication as they often use their apocrine glands, located in the sternal area, for this communication. [7] Rubbing behavior displayed through cheek rubbing can reveal dominance in a population, with subordinate individuals doing this less than dominant ones. Scent rubbing also allows animals to gather scent from their surroundings onto themselves. Gray foxes have been found to cheek rub fresh puma scrapes in order to acquire the scent and mask their own, deterring predation by other animals. This shows that scent rubbing has an interspecific scent marking function. [18]

Odours that induce rubbing

Both strong naturally occurring and artificial substances can cause mammals to scent rub. Strong smelling substances include rotting meat, fresh meat, vomit, faeces, food and the intestinal contents of other animals. Artificial substances that induce this behaviour include engine oil, perfume and insecticide. [3] [19] When an animal encounters an object with a novel or familiar smell it can elicit rubbing various body parts against this object. [2] [3]

Sex and age differences

Sex

The scent rubbing behavior has been observed more frequently in males than females for many species. Certain male domestic cats, bears, monkeys and leopards are shown to scent rub more than their female conspecifics. [5] [8] [14] [16] There is an increase of scent rubbing during breeding season for black bears, but this is done predominantly by males. [8] Body rubbing as a means of scent marking is done more often by male pumas. [9] In species of spider monkey, adult males perform fur rubbing more often than females. [7]

Age

Scent rubbing in cats is performed by adult animals more often than juveniles, indicating that the behaviour is used as a means of marking territory or of expressing their status. [5] Adult marmots display a form of scent rubbing called cheek rubbing more than young members of the species. [10] Mature pumas spent a significantly longer time body rubbing than immature pumas, which is related to communication behaviours developing with age, mature females did not visit their community scrapes as often. [9] Only sexually mature woolly monkeys exhibit chest rubbing, which suggests that this scent rubbing behaviour reproductive function. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pheromone</span> Secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species

A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavior of the receiving individuals. There are alarm pheromones, food trail pheromones, sex pheromones, and many others that affect behavior or physiology. Pheromones are used by many organisms, from basic unicellular prokaryotes to complex multicellular eukaryotes. Their use among insects has been particularly well documented. In addition, some vertebrates, plants and ciliates communicate by using pheromones. The ecological functions and evolution of pheromones are a major topic of research in the field of chemical ecology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vomeronasal organ</span> Smell sense organ above the roof of the mouth

The vomeronasal organ (VNO), or Jacobson's organ, is the paired auxiliary olfactory (smell) sense organ located in the soft tissue of the nasal septum, in the nasal cavity just above the roof of the mouth in various tetrapods. The name is derived from the fact that it lies adjacent to the unpaired vomer bone in the nasal septum. It is present and functional in all snakes and lizards, and in many mammals, including cats, dogs, cattle, pigs, and some primates. Some humans may have physical remnants of a VNO, but it is vestigial and non-functional.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flehmen response</span> Behavior in which an animal curls back its upper lip exposing its front teeth

The flehmen response, also called the flehmen position, flehmen reaction, flehmen grimace, flehming, or flehmening, is a behavior in which an animal curls back its upper lip exposing its front teeth, inhales with the nostrils usually closed, and then often holds this position for several seconds. It may be performed over a sight or substance of particular interest to the animal, or may be performed with the neck stretched and the head held high in the air.

Animal communication is the transfer of information from one or a group of animals to one or more other animals that affects the current or future behavior of the receivers. Information may be sent intentionally, as in a courtship display, or unintentionally, as in the transfer of scent from the predator to prey with kairomones. Information may be transferred to an "audience" of several receivers. Animal communication is a rapidly growing area of study in disciplines including animal behavior, sociology, neurology, and animal cognition. Many aspects of animal behavior, such as symbolic name use, emotional expression, learning, and sexual behavior, are being understood in new ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territory (animal)</span> Area a wild animal consistently defends

In ethology, territory is the sociographical area that an animal consistently defends against conspecific competition using agonistic behaviors or real physical aggression. Animals that actively defend territories in this way are referred to as being territorial or displaying territorialism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog communication</span> Communication of dogs with other dogs and as well as humans

Dog communication is the transfer of information between dogs, as well as between dogs and humans. Behaviors associated with dog communication are categorized into visual and vocal. Visual communication includes mouth shape and head position, licking and sniffing, ear and tail positioning, eye gaze, facial expression, and body posture. Dog vocalizations, or auditory communication, can include barks, growls, howls, whines and whimpers, screams, pants and sighs. Dogs also communicate via gustatory communication, utilizing scent and pheromones.

The anal glands or anal sacs are small glands near the anus in many mammals. They are situated in between the external anal sphincter muscle and internal anal sphincter muscle. In non-human mammals, the secretions of the anal glands contain mostly volatile organic compounds with a strong odor, and they are thus functionally involved in communication. Depending upon the species, they may be involved in territory marking, individual identification, and sexual signalling, as well as defense. Their function in humans is unclear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scent gland</span> Exocrine glands found in most mammals

Scent gland are exocrine glands found in most mammals. They produce semi-viscous secretions which contain pheromones and other semiochemical compounds. These odor-messengers indicate information such as status, territorial marking, mood, and sexual behaviour. The odor may be subliminal—not consciously detectable. Though it is not their primary function, the salivary glands may also function as scent glands in some animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coppery titi monkey</span> Species of New World monkey

The coppery titi monkey or red titi monkey is a species of titi monkey, a type of New World monkey, from South America. They are found in the Amazon of Brazil and Peru, and perhaps northern Bolivia. It was described as Callithrix cupreus in 1823. These monkeys have a lifespan of a little over 20 years. These monkeys eat certain fruits, insects, and plants. They live in monogamous pairs with interesting ways for vocalizing and protecting themselves from predators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat communication</span> Feline means of exchanging information

Cats communicate for a variety of reasons, including to show happiness, express anger, solicit attention, and observe potential prey. Additionally, they collaborate, play, and share resources. When cats communicate with humans, they do so to get what they need or want, such as food, water, attention, or play. As such, cat communication methods have been significantly altered by domestication. Studies have shown that domestic cats tend to meow much more than feral cats. They rarely meow to communicate with fellow cats or other animals. Cats can socialize with each other and are known to form "social ladders," where a dominant cat is leading a few lesser cats. This is common in multi-cat households.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reproductive suppression</span>

Reproductive suppression is the prevention or inhibition of reproduction in otherwise healthy adult individuals. It occurs in birds, mammals, and social insects. It is sometimes accompanied by cooperative breeding. It is maintained by behavioral mechanisms such as aggression, and physiological mechanisms such as pheromone signalling. In evolutionary terms, it may be explained by the theory of inclusive fitness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat behavior</span> Behavior of cats

Cat behavior encompasses the actions and reactions displayed by a cat in response to various stimuli and events. Cat behavior includes body language, elimination habits, aggression, play, communication, hunting, grooming, urine marking, and face rubbing. It varies among individuals, colonies, and breeds.

A cat pheromone is a chemical molecule, or compound, that is used by cats and other felids for communication. These pheromones are produced and detected specifically by the body systems of cats and evoke certain behavioural responses.

Odour is sensory stimulation of the olfactory membrane of the nose by a group of molecules. Certain body odours are connected to human sexual attraction. Humans can make use of body odour subconsciously to identify whether a potential mate will pass on favourable traits to their offspring. Body odour may provide significant cues about the genetic quality, health and reproductive success of a potential mate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preorbital gland</span> Paired exocrine gland in many hoofed animals

The preorbital gland is a paired exocrine gland found in many species of artiodactyls, which is homologous to the lacrimal gland found in humans. These glands are trenchlike slits of dark blue to black, nearly bare skin extending from the medial canthus of each eye. They are lined by a combination of sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and they produce secretions which contain pheromones and other semiochemical compounds. Ungulates frequently deposit these secretions on twigs and grass as a means of communication with other animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-reproductive sexual behavior in animals</span> Non-reproductive behavior in non-human animals

Animal non-reproductive sexual behavior encompasses sexual activities that non-human animals participate in which do not lead to the reproduction of the species. Although procreation continues to be the primary explanation for sexual behavior in animals, recent observations on animal behavior have given alternative reasons for the engagement in sexual activities by animals. Animals have been observed to engage in sex for social interaction bonding, exchange for significant materials, affection, mentorship pairings, sexual enjoyment, or as demonstration of social rank. Observed non-procreative sexual activities include non-copulatory mounting, oral sex, genital stimulation, anal stimulation, interspecies mating, same-sex sexual interaction, and acts of affection, although it is doubted that they have done this since the beginning of their existence. There have also been observations of sex with cub participants, as well as sex with dead animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-anointing in animals</span> A behaviour whereby a non-human animal smears odoriferous substances over themselves

Self-anointing in animals, sometimes called anointing or anting, is a behaviour whereby a non-human animal smears odoriferous substances over themselves. These substances are often the secretions, parts, or entire bodies of other animals or plants. The animal may chew these substances and then spread the resulting saliva mixture over their body, or they may apply the source of the odour directly with an appendage, tool or by rubbing their body on the source.

Odor molecules are detected by the olfactory receptors in the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. Each receptor type is expressed within a subset of neurons, from which they directly connect to the olfactory bulb in the brain. Olfaction is essential for survival in most vertebrates; however, the degree to which an animal depends on smell is highly varied. Great variation exists in the number of OR genes among vertebrate species, as shown through bioinformatic analyses. This diversity exists by virtue of the wide-ranging environments that they inhabit. For instance, dolphins that are secondarily adapted to an aquatic niche possess a considerably smaller subset of genes than most mammals. OR gene repertoires have also evolved in relation to other senses, as higher primates with well-developed vision systems tend to have a smaller number of OR genes. As such, investigating the evolutionary changes of OR genes can provide useful information on how genomes respond to environmental changes. Differences in smell sensitivity are also dependent on the anatomy of the olfactory apparatus, such as the size of the olfactory bulb and epithelium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunting (animal behavior)</span> Animal behavior

Bunting is a form of animal behavior, often found in felids, in which the animal butts or rubs its head against other things, including people. Bunting as a behaviour can be viewed as a variation of scent rubbing. This is when an animal, typically a carnivore, will rub its back on a scent, such as that of prey, or on the urine of an animal of the same species. Evolutionarily speaking, scent rubbing is the oldest form of scent communication and bunting is a derivative of this behaviour. Rolling in the scent of another animal was an adaptation to camouflage the scent of a predator or outside male, in order to get closer to mates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olfactic communication</span> Social interaction through smell

Olfactic communication is a channel of nonverbal communication referring to the various ways people and animals communicate and engage in social interaction through their sense of smell. Our human olfactory sense is one of the most phylogenetically primitive and emotionally intimate of the five senses; the sensation of smell is thought to be the most matured and developed human sense.

References

  1. Crowley, Shannon M.; Hodder, Dexter P. (2017-07-27). "An assessment of the efficacy of rub stations for detection and abundance surveys of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 95 (11): 885–890. doi:10.1139/cjz-2017-0040. hdl: 1807/78969 . ISSN   0008-4301.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ryon, Jenny; Fentress, J. C.; Harrington, F. H.; Bragdon, Susan (1986). "Scent rubbing in wolves (Canis lupus): The effect of novelty". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 64 (3): 573–577. doi:10.1139/z86-084.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gosling, L. Morris; McKay, Helen V. (1990). "Scent-rubbing and status signalling by male mammals". Chemoecology. 1 (3–4): 92–95. Bibcode:1990Checo...1...92G. doi:10.1007/BF01241649. S2CID   10906767.
  4. 1 2 Soso, Simone; Koziel, Jacek; Johnson, Anna; Lee, Young; Fairbanks, W. (2014). "Analytical Methods for Chemical and Sensory Characterization of Scent-Markings in Large Wild Mammals: A Review". Sensors. 14 (3): 4428–4465. Bibcode:2014Senso..14.4428S. doi: 10.3390/s140304428 . PMC   4003951 . PMID   24603639.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Feldman, Hilary N. (1994-06-01). "Methods of scent marking in the domestic cat". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 72 (6): 1093–1099. doi:10.1139/z94-147. ISSN   0008-4301.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Griffith, C. A.; Steigerwald, E. S.; Buffington, C. A. (2000-10-15). "Effects of a synthetic facial pheromone on behavior of cats". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 217 (8): 1154–1156. doi: 10.2460/javma.2000.217.1154 . ISSN   0003-1488. PMID   11043684.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Campbell, Christina J. (2000-07-01). "Fur rubbing behavior in free-ranging black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in Panama". American Journal of Primatology. 51 (3): 205–208. doi:10.1002/1098-2345(200007)51:3<205::aid-ajp5>3.0.co;2-l. ISSN   1098-2345. PMID   10902669. S2CID   15743221.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, A. Preston; Allen, Max; Gunther, Micaela (2015-05-29). Black bear marking behaviour at rub trees during the breeding season in northern California. Vol. 152.
  9. 1 2 3 Allen, Maximilian L.; Wittmer, Heiko U.; Wilmers, Christopher C. (2014-01-01). "Puma communication behaviours: understanding functional use and variation among sex and age classes". Behaviour. 151 (6): 819–840. doi:10.1163/1568539x-00003173. ISSN   1568-539X.
  10. 1 2 3 Bel, Marie-Claude; Porteret, Christelle; Coulon, Jacques (1995-11-01). "Scent deposition by cheek rubbing in the alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) in the French Alps". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 73 (11): 2065–2071. doi:10.1139/z95-243. ISSN   0008-4301.
  11. 1 2 3 Soennichsen, Susan; Chamove, Arnold S. (2002). "Responses of cats to petting by humans". Anthrozoös. 15 (3): 258–265. doi:10.2752/089279302786992577. S2CID   144843766.
  12. 1 2 Machado, JC; Genaro, G (2014-12-01). "Influence of olfactory enrichment on the exploratory behaviour of captive-housed domestic cats". Australian Veterinary Journal. 92 (12): 492–498. doi:10.1111/avj.12253. ISSN   1751-0813. PMID   25424764.
  13. Wright, Jeannie; Weldon, Paul J. (1990). "Responses by domestic cats (Felis catus) to snake scent gland secretions". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 16 (10): 2947–2953. Bibcode:1990JCEco..16.2947W. doi:10.1007/bf00979486. PMID   24263267. S2CID   10584158.
  14. 1 2 3 Du p. Bothma, J.; Le Richet, E.A.N. (1995). "Evidence of the use of rubbing, scent-marking andscratching-posts by Kalahari leopards". Journal of Arid Environments. 29 (4): 511–517. Bibcode:1995JArEn..29..511D. doi:10.1016/S0140-1963(95)80023-9.
  15. Brockmann, H.Jane (February 1977). "Territory". Animal Behaviour. 25: 252–253. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(77)90098-7. ISSN   0003-3472. S2CID   53169174.
  16. 1 2 3 Hirano, Zelinda Maria Braga; Correa, Isabel Coelho; de Oliveira, Dilmar Alberto Gonçalves (2008-06-01). "Contexts of rubbing behavior in Alouatta guariba clamitans: a scent-marking role?". American Journal of Primatology. 70 (6): 575–583. doi:10.1002/ajp.20531. ISSN   1098-2345. PMID   18322929. S2CID   23905796.
  17. 1 2 White, Brent C.; Dew, Stephanie E.; Prather, James R.; Stearns, MaryJo; Schneider, Eric; Taylor, Steve (2000-04-01). "Chest-rubbing in captive woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha)". Primates. 41 (2): 185–188. doi:10.1007/bf02557799. ISSN   0032-8332. PMID   30545169. S2CID   19041777.
  18. Allen, Maximilian L.; Gunther, Micaela S.; Wilmers, Christopher C. (2017-01-01). "The scent of your enemy is my friend? The acquisition of large carnivore scent by a smaller carnivore". Journal of Ethology. 35 (1): 13–19. doi:10.1007/s10164-016-0492-6. ISSN   0289-0771. S2CID   26040518.
  19. Gosling, L. Morris; McKay, Helen V. (1990-12-01). "Scent-rubbing and status signalling by male mammals". Chemoecology. 1 (3–4): 92–95. Bibcode:1990Checo...1...92G. doi:10.1007/bf01241649. ISSN   0937-7409. S2CID   10906767.