RESPONSES OF CAPTIVE AYE-AYES (DAUBENTONIA-MADAGASCARIENSIS) TO THE SCENT OF CONSPECIFICS - A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

The ability of 6 captive aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) to di scriminate scents from conspecifics of different age-sex classes was t ested. The animals were presented with either unscented logs or logs t hat had been placed in: (1) their own cage, (2) the cages of adult mal es or (3) the cages of adult females with female offspring. Responses to the logs, measured by approaching, proximity, tapping, gnawing, sni ffing, scent marking and vocalizations, were recorded for 30 min follo wing presentation. Logs from females with offspring provoked the highe st responses, and immature aye-ayes investigated logs more than adults of either sex. These results suggest that, as in many other prosimian s, olfaction plays an important role in the communication systems of a ye-ayes.