Test of four hypotheses to explain the function of overmarking in foals of four equid species
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61988987%3A17310%2F19%3AA20021DG" target="_blank" >RIV/61988987:17310/19:A20021DG - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/60076658:12310/19:43899121 RIV/00027014:_____/19:N0000043
Result on the web
<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-019-01239-4" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-019-01239-4</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10071-019-01239-4" target="_blank" >10.1007/s10071-019-01239-4</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Test of four hypotheses to explain the function of overmarking in foals of four equid species
Original language description
Overmarking occurs when one individual places its scent mark directly on top of the scent mark of another individual. Although it is almost ubiquitous among terrestrial mammals, we know little about the function of overmarking. In addition, almost all studies on mammalian overmarking behaviour dealt with adult individuals. Reports on this behaviour in juveniles are extremely rare, yet may elucidate the function of this behaviour. We tested four mutually non-exclusive hypotheses which might explain this behaviour in juveniles: (1) conceal the individual's scent identity, (2) announcement of association with other group members, especially the mother-i.e., sharing identity with the mother, (3) to prevent the next conception of the mother, i.e., parent-offspring conflict, and (4) an early expression of male sexual behaviour. We observed 43 foals (out of 108 individuals) from all African equid species (Equus africanus, E. grevyi, E. quagga, E. zebra) in five zoos. In total, we recorded 3340 eliminations; 260 of these events were overmarked by 38 individual foals representing all species. This represents one of the highest rates of overmarking ever recorded by mammalian juveniles. Foals of all species except African wild ass overmarked the mother more often than another herdmate: with male foals overmarked at a higher rate than female foals. Mothers preferred to overmark foals, but not exclusively their own foal. Our results provide support for the hypotheses that overmarking serves to share identity between foal and mother, and that it is an early expression of male sexual behaviour.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10613 - Zoology
Result continuities
Project
—
Continuities
V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju
Others
Publication year
2019
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Animal Cognition
ISSN
1435-9448
e-ISSN
1435-9456
Volume of the periodical
22
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
10
Pages from-to
231-241
UT code for WoS article
000458606000010
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85061489891