Urine-Marking in Three Species of Rattus.

Abstract

Urine-marking behaviour is described for Rattus lutreolus (from Tasmania), Rattus rattus and a laboratory strain of Rattus norvegicus. Numerous small drops of urine were deposited onto the substrate during normal movement in laboratory experiments. There was no significant difference in marking rate between the sexes.It is suggested that the urine marks may be olfactory cues involved in intraspecific communication.