Olfactory Communication at Sandbathing Loci by Sympatric Species of Kangaroo Rats

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Abstract
Kangaroo rats typically sandbathe in a series of side rolls and ventral rubs, resulting in the deposition of various body secretions in the sand. I investigated olfactory communication at sandbathing loci by examining responses of sympatric species of kangaroo rats, Dipodomys merriami and D. microps, to sandbathing loci of conspecific males and females and to loci of males and females of the other species. Responses to disturbed sand and gerbil odor also were tested as controls. The frequency of sandbathing rubs at sandbathing loci during a 10-min period was measured. Generally, both species showed an attraction to sandbathing deposits of conspecifics, with D. merriami exhibiting a stronger attraction than D. microps. Males showed a greater response to deposits at sandbathing loci than females and were attracted to deposits of both conspecific females and males. Females sandbathed at loci where conspecific females had sandbathed. This attraction was possibly to disturbed sand, because D. merriami females sandbathed at high frequencies at loci with only disturbed sand and no odor deposit. The attraction of kangaroo rats to sandbathing deposits of conspecifics indicated that olfactory communication occurred at sandbathing loci. Possibly, kangaroo rats identify species and sex from deposits at these sites.