Development of Olfactory Behavior in Captive Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta)

A long term research project was conducted on developmental aspects of olfactory behavior in ring-tailed lemurs to document  the ontogenetic sequence of olfactory of behavior. The olfactory communication system of ring-tailed lemurs is extremely complex. It consists of investigative and scent- marking behaviors and plays an important role either with regard to intertroop territorial defense or to regulation of the relationships within groups.

Although both males and females mark anogenitally, females have a greater number of anogenital scent glands than males.  However, females lack the antebrachial and brachial organs specialized for scent production in males. The secretions produced by the male organs are used either to mark items in the environment or for tail-anointing.

A study was conducted from March 1996 to June 1999 on a colony of lemurs from the Pistoia Zoo (Italy). Divided into two groups, there were 5 infant males and 4 infant females, 7 adolescent males and 4 adolescent females. Preliminary observations ad libitum allowed us to confirm the duration limits of infancy (0–6 mo), subdivided into lactation (0–15 weeks) and weaning (16–26 weeks), the juvenile phase (7–15 mo) and adolescence (16–18 mo). We observed first copulation in a female a t 22 months of age.

The scores were as grooming, locomote, and play. Vocalization was not scored. Countermarking indicates any kind of marking (wrist, wrist-to-pit, and genital mark) deposited over the scent marks of other individuals. We recorded countermark and investigation bouts (both sniffing and licking) of anothers’ scent marks only when they happened soon after mark deposition.

RESULTS

In the weaning stage, tail play was the only scent-marking behavior performed by infant males. In the first 2 weeks of life, infants were carried by their mothers so that a continuous olfactory smell was possible. Allmost in the middle of the juvenile period (around twelve months) brachial and antebrachial marking (wrist) appeared.

 

On the whole, olfactory investigation matured earlier than scentmarking; it was already present during infancy, while marking began only during the second half of the juvenile period. There was no significant difference between olfactory behavior in males and females.


Palagi, E. et al. (2001) Development of Olfactory Behavior in Captive Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta). International Journal of Primatology, Vol 23, No. 3, 587-599.