Territorial Significance of Scent Marking during the Non‐mating Season in the Aardwolf <i>Proteles cristatus</i> (Carnivora: Protelidae)

Abstract

Abstract Patterns of scent‐marking by male and female aardwolves during the non‐mating season in the northern Cape Province are described. The distribution of scent marks conforms to predictions for marks being used as territorial advertisements. Scent marks were concentrated around territory borders and were deposited at increasingly higher densities in smaller territories. The data are used to re‐examine existing hypotheses as to how scent marks function in territory maintenance. Scent marks provide an olfactory association between the resident and the defended area, but I suggest that the message provided by this association may depend heavily on territory size, the frequency of territorial encounters and the defensive behaviour of the resident. The greater the territory size and hence the difficulty in monitoring intrusions, the greater the threat transmitted by scent marks needs to be. In most territorial carnivores, scent marks may be interpreted by intruders as a threat of immediate physical attack if encountered by the resident. Thus scent marks help to maintain, but cannot ensure, territorial integrity in the temporary absence of the resident.