The development of responses to naturally occurring odours in spiny mice Acomys cahirinus

Abstract

The development and dynamics of responses to naturally occurring odours in spiny mice, Acomys cahirinus, were assessed in a series of experiments using a multi-choice test apparatus. The animals were tested every fifth day from day 1 of age until 35 days. The tests were carried out using both a longitudinal and a cross-sectional design. No differences were found between the experimental designs. Young A. cahirinus pups (1–10 days old) showed a strong preference for a familiar home cage odour. This preference declined as the pups grew, and by the 25th day of life the pups were no longer attracted by the familiar odour. From 20 days of age, they began to show an increasing preference for an unfamiliar odour from unrelated conspecific adults. There were no significant differences in the responses of males and females to odours. The biological importance of responses to odours during the development of pups, and the multi-choice testing method, are discussed.