Male African elephants, Loxodonta africana, can distinguish oestrous status via urinary signals

摘要: African elephants are a polygynous species that raise offspring in matriarchal society. Unlike females, males disperse, spend time male groups and search for mates when mature. Urinary chemical signals aid detecting reproductively active females. A preovulatory pheromone has been identified Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, but not yet experimentally elephants. In this study, the goal was to determine whether adult captive can distinguish between urine from conspecific females luteal periovulatory oestrous stages as an indication is released urine. Urine collected seven different female during their periods of oestrus. Bioassays were conducted with nine housed at six facilities. Males presented two types control sample once day over 3 days reduce novelty, which result misleadingly high responses. All showed greater chemosensory responses by trial ability urines increasing days. This first experimental behavioural evidence release The discern bolsters hypothesis there encourages efforts identify it.