Authors: Loizi, Helen¹; Goodwin, Thomas E.²; Rasmussen, L.E.L.³; Whitehouse, Anna M.⁴; Schulte, Bruce A.¹

Source: Behaviour, Volume 146, Number 3, 2009 , pp. 373-392(20)

Abstract:

Sexual dimorphism in morphology can be accompanied by behavioural differences between the sexes. We examined if investigatory behaviour involving the trunk of African elephants showed sexual dimorphism. Males compete and search for females, but they have a lengthy period of development before they are socially viable mates. Receptive females are relatively rare. We hypothesized that males would display higher rates of chemosensory behaviour following puberty than females. Because males disperse, they were hypothesized to be more likely to contact elephants outside their kinship group. We observed the trunk tip, chemosensory behaviours of African elephants at Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. For 208 elephants, we found no significant differences in state behaviours around waterholes by age or sex. Yet, older elephants were more likely to investigate the environment and elephant excrement than younger animals. Males were more likely to investigate urine and faeces than females. Only post-puberty animals contacted non-family with males investigating both sexes, while investigations by and to females only involved post-puberty males. Overall, the probability of performing chemosensory behaviours depended on age and sex. Male elephants appear more reliant than females on signals in urine and faeces with ensuing inspections of individuals through trunk tip contacts.

Keywords: AFRICAN ELEPHANT; CHEMICAL SIGNAL; INTRASPECIFIC COMMUNICATION; INVESTIGATION; LOXODONTA AFRICANA

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1163/156853909X410964

Affiliations: 1: Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA 2: Department of Chemistry, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA 3: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA 4: Centre for African Conservation Ecology (A.C.E.), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

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