Abstract
In 14 series, each of 100 tests, involving 350 individual animals it has been shown that odors derived from the anal, inguinal and chin glands and urine strengthen to different degrees the confidence of European wild rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus. In the tests, two rabbits were put together on otherwise neutral ground previously treated with the odor from one of the contestants. The confidence of the rabbits was determined from an assessment of the record of the time to first physical contact, the frequencies of approaches and aggression, the number of attempts to escape, and also by making a subjective assessment of their general deportment. The results confirm earlier conclusions on the territorial functions of the anal and chin glands, the role of inguinal glands in individual identification, and the behavioral role of urine. On otherwise neutral ground the rabbits' own chin secretions were found to be the most effective in stimulating the confidence of males and that of their female partners. The odor of the anal gland secretions of males stimulated a similar but slightly weaker effect. The anal gland secretions of females influenced their own confidence but not that of males. Urine seemed to play a more important role in affecting the confidence of females than of males. Inguinal gland secretions had least effect. Odor from this source generally did not influence the confidence of the experimental animals; secretion from the inguinal glands of males had a slight effect on the behavior of their female partners.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Desjardins, C., Maruniak, J.A., andBronson, F.H. 1973. Social rank in house mice: Differentiation revealed by ultraviolet visualisation of urinary marking patterns.Science 182:939–941.
Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I. 1950. Beitrage zur Biologie der Haus-und der Ährenmaus nebst einigen Beobachtungen an anderen Nagern.Z. Tierpsychol. 7:558–587.
Johnson, R.P. 1973. Scent marking in mammals.Anim. Behav. 21:521–535.
Myers, K., andPoole, W.E. 1961. A study of the biology of the wild rabbit,Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), in confined populations. II. The effects of season and population increase on behaviour.CSIRO Wildl, Res. 6:1–41.
Mykytowycz, R. 1966. Observations on odoriferous and other glands in the Australian wild rabbit,Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) and the hare,Lepus europaeus. II. The inguinal glands.CSIRO Wildl. Res. 11:49–64.
Mykytowycz, R. 1968. Territorial marking by rabbits.Sci. Am. 218:116–126.
Mykytowycz, R. 1973. Reproduction of mammals in relation to environmental odours.J. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl. 19:433–446.
Mykytowycz, R. 1974. Odour in the spacing behaviour of mammals. Pages 327–343in M.C. Birch (ed.), Pheromones. North-Holland, Amsterdam.
Mykytowycz, R. 1975. Activation of territorial behaviour in the rabbit,Oryctolagus cuniculus, by stimulation with its own chin gland secretion. Pages 425–432; in Denton, D.A., and Coghlan, J.P. (eds.), Olfaction and Taste, V. Academic Press, New York.
Mykytowycz, R., andHesterman, E.R. 1970. The behaviour of captive wild rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in response to strange dung-hills.Forma Functio 2:1–12.
Mykytowycz, R., andHesterman, E.R. 1975. An experimental study of aggression in captive European rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) With appendix on: Method of multivariate analysis of data, by M.L. Dudziński and C.B.H. Edwards.Behaviour 52:104–23.
Siegel, S. 1956. Non-Parametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Southern, H.N. 1948. Sexual and aggressive behaviour in the wild rabbit.Behaviour 1: 173–194.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mykytowycz, R., Hesterman, E.R., Gambale, S. et al. A comparison of the effectiveness of the odors of rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus, in enhancing territorial confidence. J Chem Ecol 2, 13–24 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988020
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988020