MATERIALS ON OLFACTIVE COMMUNICATION OF COMMON PALM CIVET, PARADOXURUS-HERMAPHRODITUS

An olfactive response of Paradoxurus hermaphroditus to scent marks (ur ine and faeces) and information capacity of these marks were studied. The method of presenting pairs of odours to recipients was used. Asymm etry in olfactive response of animals (difference in duration of sniff ing time for two odours of each trial) served as a criteria of the pre sence of information. The olfactive response of common palm civet vari es by duration and is related to both to sex and age of animals and, t o a lesser degree, to a king of excretes and their combination. A diff erence in the olfactive response of males (adults and young) and femal es to urine and faeces of a conspecific or unconspecific species was w ell pronounced and oriented to scent marks of unconspecific individual s testifying to the ability of animals to distinguish information of s pecies by urine and faeces. Importance of different excretes in indire ct (madiated) scent communication of common palm civet is discussed.