Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jan 16;13(1):e9692.
doi: 10.1002/ece3.9692. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Reading the signs: Camera-trapping provides new insights on scent marking in the large-antlered muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis)

Andrew Tilker  1   2 , Pablo Sinovas  3
Affiliations

Reading the signs: Camera-trapping provides new insights on scent marking in the large-antlered muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis)

Andrew Tilker et al. Ecol Evol. .

Abstract

We present evidence of scent marking in the large-antlered muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis). Given the importance of scent marking in individual recognition among ungulates, this behavior may serve to communicate the fitness cost of antagonistic interactions among rival males and could serve as a mechanism for mate assessment among females.

Keywords: Annamites; Southeast Asia; camera‐trap; intraspecific communication; large‐antlered muntjac; scent marking.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Large‐antlered muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis) marking and investigative behavior captured by camera‐trap in Virachey National Park, Cambodia. (a) First occasion of male scent marking by rubbing forehead on the ground; (b) second occasion of male scent marking by rubbing forehead on the ground; (c) different nonmarking male investigating scent marked area; and (d) female investigating scent marked area
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Alexiou, I. , Abrams, J. F. , Coudrat, C. N. , Nanthavong, C. , Nguyen, A. , Niedballa, J. , Wilting, A. , & Tilker, A. (2022). Camera‐trapping reveals new insights in the ecology of three sympatric muntjacs in an overhunted biodiversity hotspot. Mammalian Biology, 102, 1–12.
    1. Allen, M. L. , Wittmer, H. U. , Setiawan, E. , Jaffe, S. , & Marshall, A. J. (2016). Scent marking in Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi): Novel observations close a key gap in understanding felid communication behaviours. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 1–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Barrette, C. (1975). The social behavior of muntjac. Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary. https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/15103
    1. Blank, D. A. , Ruckstuhl, K. , & Yang, W. (2014). Secretion marking with preorbital glands in goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa (Artiodactyla: Bovidae). Folia Zoologica, 63(2), 127–136.
    1. Bowyer, R. T. , Ballenberghe, V. V. , & Rock, K. R. (1994). Scent marking by Alaskan moose: Characteristics and spatial distribution of rubbed trees. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 72(12), 2186–2192.

LinkOut - more resources