Abstract
Female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, spent more time investigating odours from the anogenital and mouth regions of non-sibling than sibling males, and discriminated saliva and urine of siblings from those of non-sibling males. Among non-sibling dyads, nose-to-nose contacts were brief but frequent and decreased over each 10-min interval of the test; female contacts with the male anogenital region were less frequent, longer lasting and did not decrease during the 30-min test period. The possible functions of different male odours and female behavioural responses to these odours are discussed in relation to their potential role in conspecific identification and oestrus-induction in this species.
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