Abstract
Golden hamster pups showed a marked preference for the odor of home-cage bedding over that of fresh bedding beginning at 7-8 days of age. This preference subsequently declined. Home-cage odor was preferred to that of male and nonpregnant female hamsters but not to that of another mother and her litter. Pups showed odor preferences as early as 4 days of age in certain non-animal odor comparisons. Odor-guided filial behaviors may contribute to the solidarity and eventual breakup of the family group.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 211-221 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Behavioral Biology |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1974 |
Externally published | Yes |