Scent aardwolf

Keeper substances in a scent secretion, and/or the nature of the substrate such as rock, wood or soil, impart longevity to a scent mark. In our own studies, scent marks of captive pronghorn, A. americana, were still noticeable to the human nose 4 months after all animals had been removed from a pen. Similarly, scent marks of the aardwolf, Proteks cristatus, last for up to 6 months (Apps etal, 1989). 2-Phenoxyethanol in the secretions from the chin gland of the rabbit is typical in dominant animals, serving as a fixative to extend the life of the signal (Hayes etal, 2001). 

Richardson, P. R. K. (1990). Scent marking and territoriality in the aardwolf. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, vol. 5, eds. D. W. MacDonald, D. Miiller-Schwarze and S. E. Natynczuk, pp. 378-387. Oxford Oxford University Press. 

Field observations can sometimes provide a perspective of subject responses under natural conditions. Species that are not easily disturbed by intruders can be followed and their behaviors recorded. Richardson (1990) followed aardwolfs in a jeep at a distance of 30 m to describe their dispersion pattern of scent markings and the response of conspecifics. Meaney (1990) followed pikas on foot, locating cheek marks and recording pika locations to the nearest stake in a 5 X 5-m grid established across the study site. Less direct observations are necessary for most species. 

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