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Cited by 17Olfactory and Sensory Function StudiesAnimal Behavior and ReproductionPrimate Behavior and Ecology

Dung as a potential medium for inter-sexual chemical signaling in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Ghosal, Ratna, Seshagiri, P.B., Sukumar, R.·2012·Behavioural Processes
DOI 10.1016/j.beproc.2012.04.010
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Abstract

Chemical signaling is a prominent mode of male-female communication among elephants, especially during their sexually active periods. Studies on the Asian elephant in zoos have shown the significance of a urinary pheromone (Z7-12:Ac) in conveying the reproductive status of a female toward the opposite sex. We investigated the additional possibility of an inter-sexual chemical signal being conveyed through dung. Sixteen semi-captive adult male elephants were presented with dung samples of three female elephants in different reproductive phases. Each male was tested in 3 separate trials, within an interval of 1-3 days. The trials followed a double-blind pattern as the male and female elephants used in the trials were strangers, and the observer was not aware of the reproductive status of females during the period of bioassays. Males responded preferentially (P<0.005), in terms of higher frequency of sniff, check and place behavior toward the dung of females close to pre-ovulatory period (follicular-phase) as compared to those in post-ovulatory period (luteal-phase). The response toward the follicular phase samples declined over repeated trials though was still significantly higher than the corresponding response toward the non-ovulatory phase in each of the trials performed. This is the first study to show that male Asian elephants were able to distinguish the reproductive phase of the female by possibly detecting a pre-ovulatory pheromone released in dung.

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  • Asian elephants can use olfactory cues to determine where food is present and where it is not and to discriminate between dung from females based on reproductive state.

    “Asian elephants can use olfactory cues to determine where food is present and where it is not (Plotnik et al., 2014) and to discrimate between dung from females based on reproductive state (Ghosal et al., 2012).”

    From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Ghosal et al., 2012

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Authors
Ghosal, R., Seshagiri, P. B., & Sukumar, R.
Affiliations
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (IN)
Corresponding author
Sukumar, R.
ORCID
Venue
Behavioural Processes
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-09
Volume
91
Issue
1
Pages
15-21
ISSN
0376-6357 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.beproc.2012.04.010
OpenAlex
W1997082226
Cited by
17
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
FWCI
0.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Behavioural Processes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NOT FOUND REPOSITORY (Indian Institute of Science Bangalore) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
Keywords
Asian elephant, dung, chemical communication, olfactory cues, estrous cycle, zoo elephants
MeSH terms
Animals, Double-Blind Method, Elephants, Feces, Female, Male, Progesterone, Sex Attractants, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Biomarkers, Estrous Cycle

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