Effects of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) on olfactory communication of Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia

Maximilian L. Allen, Francesco Rovero, Valentina Oberosler, Claudio Augugliaro, Miha Krofel

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Olfactory communication is important for many solitary carnivores to delineate territories and communicate with potential mates and competitors. Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) are small felids with little published research on their ecology and behaviour, including if they avoid or change behaviours due to dominant carnivores. We studied their olfactory communication and visitation at scent-marking sites using camera traps in two study areas in Mongolia. We documented four types of olfactory communication behaviours, and olfaction (sniffing) was the most frequent. Pallas’s cats used olfactory communication most frequently at sites that were not visited by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and when they used communal scent-marking sites, they were more likely to use olfactory communication when a longer time had elapsed since the last visit by a snow leopard. This suggests that Pallas’s cats may reduce advertising their presence in response to occurrence of snow leopards, possibly to limit predation risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)807-815
Number of pages9
JournalBehaviour
Volume160
Issue number8-9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Mongolia
  • Otocolobus manul
  • Panthera uncia
  • behaviour
  • camera trap
  • scent marking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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