SELF-ANOINTING BEHAVIOR IN THE RICE-FIELD RAT, RATTUS RATTOIDES

Authors
XU ZJ STODDART DM DING HB ZHANG J
Citation
Zj. Xu et al., SELF-ANOINTING BEHAVIOR IN THE RICE-FIELD RAT, RATTUS RATTOIDES, Journal of mammalogy, 76(4), 1995, pp. 1238-1241
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Zoology
Journal title
Journal of mammalogy → ACNP
ISSN journal
00222372
Volume
76
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
1238 - 1241
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-2372(1995)76:4<1238:SBITRR>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
The rice-field rat, Rattus rattoides, displayed self-anointing behavio r when anal-gland secretion of a weasel, Mustela sibirica, was encount ered. This behavior was not observed when the rats encountered water a nd the urine from a red fox, Vulpes vulpes. Juvenile rats born in the laboratory without any experience with weasels also displayed the beha vior upon encountering the secretions. The self-anointing behavior in the rat is not sex-specific, nor is it age-specific.