This article identifies the social hierarchy of same-sex Anourosorex squamipes (Chinese mole shrews) using a one-to-one interaction method in a neutral arena, and on that basis further studies the methods and capabilities used by the subjects to recognize themselves and others, their behavior response mechanisms to urine odors, and their means of recognizing social hierarchy of fellow squamipes through their urine. Results: (1) Dominant squamipes exhibit aggressive behaviors more frequently, subordinate squamipes exhibit defensive behaviors more frequently, and the marking behaviors of dominant squamipes are significantly more intense than the submissive individuals. Male subjects show higher frequency of aggressive behavior than female subjects within the same social class, and the female squamipes demonstrate this aggressive behavior less intensely than males. (2) Subordinate squamipes show clear preference for their own urine odors and dominant squamipes for the odor of others’ urine. Squamipes of different sexes and from different hierarchy show only minor differences in their behavioral modes of self-recognition, and little difference was exhibited in terms of either self-recognition mode or behavioral response mode to non-self urine among both sexes and differing social hierarchy. Squamipes’ self-recognition capabilities vary on the basis of different social classes. (3)
This species can recognize social classes of fellow sqamipes through their urine odors. Female individuals show more interest in the urine of male individuals, and the urine of dominant males is avoided by other male squamipes. Length of time spent visiting other individuals, sniffing frequency, and licking frequency were all significantly higher in males than females, and males and females showed sexual dimorphism in terms of recognition of urine odors from different social hierarchy.