The effects of exposure to conspecific urine on urine-marking in male and female degus (Octodon degus).

The urine-marking, defecation rates, and urine-sniffing behavior of male and female degus (Octodon degus) were recorded in an open field whose substrate was clean (Control Tests) or covered in conspecific urine (Experimental Tests). Animals were exposed to these conditions intermittently over a 3-mo period. Males urine-marked more than females. Both sexes exhibited increased levels of urine-marking and defecation during Control Tests as time passed. Males showed decreased urine-marking and defecation rates when exposed to the urine of conspecific males, but no changes in these behaviors with female urine. Females increased urinemarking rates when exposed to female urine, but exhibited no changes with male urine. The results are discussed with reference to degu social organization and the factors influencing scent-marking behavior.