The effect of sand deprivation on sandbathing and marking in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Tortora, Daniel F.; Eyer, Jerry C.; Overmann, Stephen R.

doi:10.1016/s0091-6773(74)90701-9

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Most investigators believe this rolling behavior functions primarily in the care of the body surface (Tortora et al, 1974) or, as suggested by Kittrell (Note 1), as a way of rubbing off (or on) Hardenan lipids that have been spread over the coat during grooming. However, Eisenberg believed that it may have a communicative function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonal and sensory control of scent-marking in the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida lepida).

Fleming¹,

Tambosso²

1980

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology

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In Experiment 1, the marking behavior of adult male and female woodrats was tested in a neutral environment Males showed higher levels of ventral rubbing than females, whereas the reverse was true for the body-rolling response. In Experiment 2, the influence of testosterone propionate and estradiol-17 on scent-marking in female and male gonadectomized experimental animals was investigated. Animals were given a series of marking tests prior to and during social encounters with conspecifics. Ventral rubbing was found to be under androgenu control, and body rolling was partially under estrogenic control. In both sexes, high-dominance status and circulating testosterone were necessary for the occurrence of ventral rubbing during social encounters. In Experiment 3, the ventral rubbing of males in the cages of conspecifics was observed before and after social encounters with these animals. Before social encounters males showed higher levels of rubbing to conspecific odors than to neutral odors or to their own odors Alter social encounters males increased their ventral rubbing in cages of females but not in cages of males. In Experiment 4, males preferred to ventral rub in areas soiled with the odor of other males rather than those soiled by females but preferred to roll in areas soiled by females. Estrogen-primed females preferred to roll in areas soiled by males over those previously soiled by females.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonal and sensory control of scent-marking in the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida lepida).

Fleming¹,

Tambosso²

1980

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology

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“…Tortora et al (1974) described the effect of sand deprivation on behavior in gerbils. Tortora et al (1974) described the effect of sand deprivation on behavior in gerbils.…”

Section: Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology and Diseases of Other Rodents

Donnelly

Bergin

Ihrig

2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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“…Sand or deep bedding allow expression of the animals' burrowing behaviors (Field and Sibold, 1999). Sand bathing is an important part of the gerbil behavioral repertoire (Tortora et al, 1974), but providing sand may not always be practical in the laboratory setting.…”

Section: Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gerbils need to have a substrate to remove the lipids that they place on their hair coat during self-grooming. In the wild, gerbils use sand baths, and they will use them in the laboratory if provided (Tortora et al, 1974). If gerbils exhibit a dirty, ungroomed hair coat, consider changing the type and amount of bedding, make sure the relative humidity is less than 50% and consider lowering the temperature of the room.…”

Section: Veterinary Carementioning

confidence: 99%