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Anogenital distance and dominance status in male house mice ( Mus domesticus )
Author(s) -
Drickamer Lee C.,
Vom Saal Frederick S.,
Marriner Lisa M.,
Mossman Catherine A.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1995)21:4<301::aid-ab2480210406>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - house mice , anogenital distance , house mouse , dominance (genetics) , sexual behavior , physiology , biology , psychology , developmental psychology , zoology , genetics , gene , pregnancy , fetus , in utero
Factors influencing the tendency to be aggressive were investigated in male house mice using a series of paired encounters. Body size, body lenght, body temperature, age, and anogenital distance were measured on all males. Paired encounters were conducted using a standard mouse cage as an arena. Across 64 males involved in 224 encounters, the tendency to be dominant and win encounters was significantly correlated only with anogenital distance (r = 0.383). These findings suggest that there are significant behavioral effects in male mice that could parallel the intrauterine position and related prental hormone effects that have been elucidated in female house mice and other rodents. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.