Species, population and individual specific odors in urine of mole rats (Spalax ehrenbevgi) detected by laboratory rats

Urine odors from 4 species of blind subterranean mole rats belonging to the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel were evaluated to determine whether there were discriminable differences in the odors that were specific to different individuals, populations, and species of mole rats. Trained laboratory rats assessed these differences in an automated olfactometer using an operant conditioning paradigm. They demonstrated the discriminability of the urine odors in the 3 categories by their correct responses in generalization trials. These characteristic species, population and individual odors may provide these solitary, territorial and blind rodents a means for diverse chemical communication in spacing behavior, reproduction, species isolation and speciation.