Sniffing Behavior Communicates Social Hierarchy (IMAGE)

Cell Press

Sniffing Behavior Communicates Social Hierarchy

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When animals like dogs or rats sniff one another, there might be more going on than you’d think. Research reported in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, on March 7th finds in rats that those sniffing behaviors communicate information about an individual’s social status. In those encounters, more dominant rats act as primary sniffers, while subordinate sniffees actually slow their breath.

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Wesson, <i>Current Biology</i>

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