Chemical communication in Cavia: responses of wild (C. aperea), domestic (C. porcellus) and F1 males to urine.

Urine preferences of wild (Cavia aperea), domestic (C. porcellus), and F1 adult male guinea pigs were investigated. Males of all three types preferred female urine to male urine regardless of donor type. When given a choice between female urine of each type, males preferred conspecific urine. In choices between male urine of the three types, a conspecific preference was evident for wild and domestic but not F1 subjects. These data indicate that a loss of distinctive male and female odours had not occurred as a result of domestication. However, the urine odours of wild and domestic types have diverged. The possible effects of previous individual experience on the preferential response is discussed.