INDIVIDUAL ODORS IN 2 CHROMOSOMAL SPECIES OF BLIND, SUBTERRANEAN MOLE-RAT (SPALAX-EHRENBERGI) - CONSPECIFIC AND CROSS-SPECIES DISCRIMINATION

Mole rats from two chromosomal species (2n = 58 and 2n = 60) of the Sp alax ehrenbergi superspecies of Israel were tested to determine whethe r they were able to discriminate differences in the odour of urine fro m same-sec individuals of their own and of the other chromosomal speci es. An habituation-dis crimination apparatus was designed for use with these solitary and blind subterranean rodents. Animals habituated to the odour of urine from one individual presented for 10 min at a centr e sniffing area in the roof of a 50 cm long Perspex tunnel. The odour of urine from tile original donor and from a second individual were pr esented at two other sniffing areas in the tunnel roof during a 5 min discrimination phase. Significant differences in the time spent invest igating the two odours demonstrated successful discrimination between them. The results indicate that male and female mole rats of both spec ies can discriminate between the individual-specific odour cues in uri ne from pairs of conspecifics and pairs of heterospecific mole rats.