The dark-ventral-patch of male red deer, a sexual signal that conveys the degree of involvement in rutting behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In polygynous mammals, signalling may play a decisive role in mating behavior, mediating the intensity of male fights and female mate choice. During the rutting season, male red deer may show a visible dark patch in their ventral fur. Recently, this patch has been suggested to act as a flexible sexual signal, due to its relationships with other variables such as age, body size, antler development, volatile compounds, or the competitive environment. The analysis of fur pigmentation at the ventral patch suggests that this might also visually indicate the male intrinsic predisposition to take part in mating competition.

Results

To assess the possible role of this trait as a communicative signal related to mate competition, we used red deer behavioral observations dur

SUBMITTER: de la Pena E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10127101 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature