Scent rubbing

Scent rubbing is a behavior where a mammal rubs its body against an object in their environment, sometimes in ones covered with strongly odored substances. It is typically shown in carnivores, although many mammals exhibit this behavior. Lowering shoulders, collapsing the forelegs, pushing forward and rubbing the chin, temples, neck, or back is how this act is performed. A variety of different odors can elicit this behavior including feces, vomit, fresh or decaying meat, insecticide, urine, repellent, ashes, human food and so on. Scent rubbing can be produced by an animal smelling novel odors, which include manufactured smells such as perfume or motor oil and carnivore smells including feces and food smells. Scent rubbing is often performed with scent marking and self-anointing, and is typically used by animals to scent mark an object in their surroundings. This marking can be used as a means of communication between species. Many different species of felids, monkeys, bears, wolves and marmots have primarily been used to study scent rubbing in carnivores. Differences in gender and age exist for scent rubbing, with adults and males performing the behavior more frequently than juveniles and females in many species.

Species

Felidae Many carnivorous felids scent rub. Felids are able to discriminate between similar smelling odors using the vomeronasal organ, which is important for eliciting scent rubbing. The rubbing behavior is often performed as a means of scent-marking.

Domestic cat Domestic cats display scent rubbing. The cheeks, abdomen, paws, above tail and around the anus contain organs that produce scent. When a cat is comfortable with their surroundings and environment, they release the feline facial pheromone during facial rubbing in order to leave this pheromone on the objects around them. Cats scent rub against objects as a means of marking by releasing pheromones with glandular secretions, and information about the animal's age, sex, and identity can be obtained from these secretions. Domestic cats will more frequently rub against an object that is new to their environment. When an object is induced with the scent of another animal it causes an increase in rubbing as it contains sensory properties that are not familiar to the cat. When a cat is presented with an object treated with scent gland secretions from both a rat and snake, the cat will forcefully scent rub its head against it. Mutual face rubbing behavior between cats in groups and cats rubbing against their owners may be a form of social bonding. During rubbing against humans, cats tend to use the temporal gland area which consists of the cheek, between the eye and the ear.

Leopard Kalahari leopards use trees in their environment to scent rub. When the backs and flanks are rubbed against trees it is most often related to itching rather than scent rubbing, but when rubbing to scent mark is used it is mostly demonstrated by males when mating. It is suggested that this rubbing behavior is a form of chemical communication regarding female attention.

Bears

Bears rub against the ground, trees and rocks in order to scent mark. This is the most frequent way that bears mark their surroundings. Black bears rub their cheeks, back, neck and head against trees in a bipedal stance. This act is noted most often during the breeding season for grizzly and black bears as a form of communication. The behavioral aspect of scent rubbing is shown during interspecific interactions between these bears, as black bears are found to decrease their tree rubbing once a grizzly has already done so. The Andean bear scent rubs against trees at marking sites by rubbing its neck, shoulders, flanks or back. Sometimes this species marks the tree with its claws or urinates while rubbing. The behavior in this species is thought to be linked to intraspecific communication. This communication lets other bears know whose territory it is.

New World monkeys The rubbing behaviors of the Southern brown howler monkeys are linked to scent marking. Throat (facial and neck), anal, dorsal, chest and chin rubbing has been observed in Alouatta and is mostly performed while sitting. Like felids, howler monkeys use their vomeronasal sensory organs to distinguish pheromones. Dominant howlers of both male and female genders scent rub and mark more than subordinate conspecifics. Anogenital rubbing in monkeys is associated with cleaning after defecation and urination and also deposits the animals scent for other species to notice. Black-handed spider monkeys are another Atelidae species which display fur rubbing against the leaves of Rutaceae plants. Their scent rubbing behaviour resembles those shown by white-faced capuchins, often done by many individuals simultaneously, creating an interaction among their population and may function in scent marking and olfactory communication. Woolly monkeys also show scent rubbing in the form of chest rubbing that suggests the behaviour has a reproductive function. The reasoning for chest rubbing in woolly monkeys is similar to the throat rubbing displayed by howler monkeys during mating season. Rubbing behaviour in woolly monkeys has also been linked to dominance and social communication.

Gray wolf Gray wolves scent rub to a large variety of odors including urine, perfumes, repellant, ashes, human handled objects, food, and resting sites. They scent rub intensively to manufactured smells such as motor oil and carnivore scents such as feces of other animals including black bear and cougars. The reason behind scent rubbing in wolves is unknown, but it is suggested that they use it to remember odors experienced in their environment, whether new or familiar.

Marmot Marmots slowly rub their faces from mouth to ears on objects repeatedly as a form of scent rubbing called cheek rubbing. This behavior is common, and the objects are typically stones, rocks and the ground around burrows. They conduct this behavior to scent mark, and when interrupted fights can occur. Marmots scent rub on new objects within their home environment.

Communication

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