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Behavioral Function and Chemistry of Volatiles from Feces and Anal Secretions of House Mice, Mus musculus - A Preliminary Report

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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 4

Abstract

The occurrence in the anal region of odoriferous gland secretions which, either on their own or in combination with feces, function for behavioral purposes has been reported in a number of mammalian species. In the wild rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, the territorial function of the secretion from anal glands and feces has been studied particularly intensively (Mykytowycz, 1970), and ethological enquiries have been backed by chemical investigation (Goodrich et al., 1978, 1981a, 1981b).

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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York

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Goodrich, B.S., Gambale, S., Pennycuik, P.R., Redhead, T.D. (1986). Behavioral Function and Chemistry of Volatiles from Feces and Anal Secretions of House Mice, Mus musculus - A Preliminary Report. In: Duvall, D., Müller-Schwarze, D., Silverstein, R.M. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2235-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2235-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9310-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2235-1

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