ISSN:
1573-1561
Keywords:
Cervidae
;
interdigital secretion
;
olfactory communication
;
pheromones
;
Rangifer tarandus
;
reindeer
;
scent glands
;
scent marking
;
sniffing
;
tracking
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Adult captive European “forest” reindeer,Rangifer tarandus L., were exposed to hindfoot interdigital (ID) secretion placed on the ground. The animals were tested with blanks and interdigital secretion from themselves and male and female group members, and secretion from excised glands of male and female “mountain” reindeer. Responses to the stimuli consisted of sniffing, licking, and olfactory searching on the ground. With forest reindeer secretions, each sex responded more to its own ID secretion than to that of the opposite sex. Of the mountain reindeer samples, male ID secretion released stronger responses. The responses did not vary systematically from June to October. The functional significance of the ID secretion in free-ranging reindeer is discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00989341
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