Scent marking by cheek rubbing in the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)

Abstract

Scent marking is relatively well documented in ground squirrels. Some work has been conducted on arboreal sciurids, but no detailed study on scent marking has yet been published on flying squirrels, a distinct subfamily of the Sciuridae. The objective of the present study is to fill this gap by analysing scent-marking behaviour by cheek rubbing in the Northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus. The presence and importance of oral glands are demonstrated histologically, and a detailed ethological study of 78 cases of scent marking is presented. A contextual analysis, as defined by Drummond, and a comparison with other sciurids are carried out in order to understand the role played by scent marking in this semisocial species. It appears that scent marking by cheek rubbing is used by G. sabrinus to maintain the animal's familiarity with its home range by "reassuring" and orienting it in that environment. In addition, scent marking by cheek rubbing may also function in intraspecific communication, notably with regard to sharing or avoidance of the same grooming, resting, and feeding sites.