ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 623-633.DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150424

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Role of urine odors in recognition of social class among Anourosorex squamipes

ZONG Hao, CHEN Deng, DU Rong, HU Tao, LEI Ziyong, WANG Qian, ZHAO Tianmeng, FAN Hailing, FU Changkun   

  1. (College of Life Sciences,Sichuan Normal University,Chengdu 610101,China)
  • Online:2020-12-01 Published:2020-12-03

四川短尾鼩尿液气味在社会等级识别中的作用

宗浩 陈登 杜蓉 胡涛 雷子勇 汪茜 赵甜梦 樊海灵 付长坤   

  1. (四川师范大学生命科学学院,成都 610101)
  • 通讯作者: 付长坤 E-mail:fckgoodxs@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(31672304);四川师范大学科研创新团队基金

Abstract:

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.

Key words: Anourosorex squamipes, Social hierarchy, Urine odor recognition, Behavior response, Chemical communication

摘要:

本文在中立竞技场中通过两两互作确定四川短尾鼩(Anourosorex squamipes)同性个体间的社会等级,并在此基础上利用其尿液,研究不同社会等级个体的自我/非自我识别能力及模式、尿液气味的行为响应机制,以及社会等级识别能力。结果表明:(1)四川短尾鼩优势个体表现攻击行为较多,从属个体防御行为较多,优势个体的标记行为显著高于从属个体。攻击行为表现为同等级雄性高于同等级雌性,且雌性间的攻击强度低于雄性。(2)从属个体和优势个体分别对自身尿液气味和非自身尿液气味存在明显偏好差异。不同性别、等级个体自我识别模式差异不明显,不同社会等级个体对于自身识别模式和非自身尿液的行为反应模式均不同。不同社会等级个体具有自我识别能力且能力不同。(3)四川短尾鼩能够识别不同社会等级个体的尿液气味,雌性对雄性尿液更感兴趣,雄性对优势雄性尿液选择回避。雄性对其他个体的访问时间与嗅舔频次均显著高于雌性,雌雄个体在识别不同社会等级的尿液气味时存在性二型。

关键词: 四川短尾鼩, 社会等级, 尿液识别, 行为响应, 化学通讯