SCENT-MARKING IN RING-TAILED LEMURS - RESPONSES TO THE INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN SCENT IN THE HOME-RANGE

In three sets of experiments, a group of captive Ring-tailed lemurs ra nging at liberty were presented with sticks scent-marked with their ow n scent, or with scent from unrelated animals or unmarked sticks. The results from experiments which involved a choice between scents indica ted stronger responses, in terms of greater intensity of scent-marking to scent from ''strange'' animals. In the experiment where individual scents were presented one at a time, the length of time spent sniffin g was greater for ''strange'' scent but this did not transfer to addit ional scent-marks. Most of the responses were elicited from males in t he group and involved wrist-marking only, but timing of experiment inf luenced both responses and type of scent-mark probably in relation to the onset of oestrus. The role of scent-marking and the concept of gro up scent are also discussed.