What does a mouse do to recognize its sex partner?

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SUMMARY

Mice utilize olfactory cues to recognize their sex partners, primarily relying on scent to identify females. Male mice can be influenced by female scents, but their own scent remains a significant factor, potentially leading to aggressive behavior towards other males. The presence of bedding soiled by a female can stimulate arousal in males, even in her absence. Additionally, female mice also use scent for partner recognition and may abort a fetus if they switch partners, indicating the importance of olfactory signals in reproductive behaviors.

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Chipmank
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What does a mouse do to recognize its sex partner ?

Thanks
 
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Most likely it smells out females.
 
if so, will he be fooled if people coat the the male mouse with female scent ?
 
Chipmank said:
if so, will he be fooled if people coat the the male mouse with female scent ?

Not entirely, because the male mouse will still have its own scent (might even initiate some aggressive behavior if one male perceives that the other male has been with a female he "desires"). But, you can put the male mouse into a cage with bedding soiled by the female to start the arousal process, even without the female present.
 
Snazzy said:
Most likely it smells out females.
Are you sure you want to make this generalization? You've made an assumption that the original mouse is male.
There is only a 50/50 chance that is true.
 
Last edited:
Females use scent too. A female mopuse will even abort a foetus if she changes partners, based on the difference in smell in her new partner and her old one (and a hormone he secretes).
 

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