Olfactory behavioural responses in captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) exposed to oestrous and non-oestrous urine samples

Abstract

Whilst flehmen behaviour has been observed in some marsupials, including the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), it is unknown whether it, or other male-specific behaviours are exhibited differentially in response to the detection of oestrous females, which if proven, could assist in the detection of oestrus in breeding programs for captive southern hairy-nosed wombats. Six captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats were exposed to urine samples collected from a single female that was confirmed to be in oestrus and mid-pregnancy. Urine samples were presented to the males simultaneously and subsequent behaviours recorded for five minutes. There were no significant differences in the number of times flehmen behaviour was displayed in response to oestrous and non-oestrous urine samples (P = 0.577), the number of times the male sniffed each sample (P = 0.595), or the time spent investigating each urine sample (P = 0.414). Our results suggest that neither male flehmen behaviour nor any specific male-related precopulatory behaviour was associated with the olfaction of urine from a female in different stages of the oestrous cycle, and is thus unlikely to be a reliable management tool for the detection of oestrus.