Familiarity and mating behaviour in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum (tuco- tuco)

ZENUTO, RR; ESTAVILLO, C; FANJUL, MS

CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

NATL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA-N R C RESEARCH PRESS

Año: 2007 vol. 85 p. 944 - 955

0008-4301

Olfactory communication in the form of scent marking the limits of individual territory is a common feature among rodents. Individual recognition by olfactory cues has been reported for the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum. Since individual tuco-tucos occupy and defend adjacent territories, familiarity by odors cues may represent an important mechanism mediating neighbor recognition and probably mate selection. Chemical signals left by males could give females information about the identity of neighbors and allow familiarization with their odors. This study tested whether familiarization of female C. talarum with conspecific male odors affects mating behavior facilitating mating as consequence of a decrease in aggressive behavior and an increase in sexual behavior. Familiarity was established by housing females with male odors for eight days. Individual recognition by olfactory cues may contribute C. talarum reducing mating costs when pairing with neighbors, since familiarized females showed low aggression towards males and copulations were not reinforced. Those females no exposed to male odors showed an unexpected higher sexual interest for unfamiliar males, but encounters were more aggressive and copulations were reinforced. Female exposure to male odors did not contribute itself enhancing female sexual behaviors.