How Do Rats Communicate With Each Other?
WouterRats are highly social animals, and there are a variety of ways they communicate with each other. One of the most interesting ways is through their body language. They exhibit body language through grooming and licking each other. When male rats are in heat, they may aggressively groom their submissive female counterparts. Rats also wag their tails to show they are happy or angry. They may also mark subordinates with urine if they are not obeying.
To study how rats communicate, researchers first studied the social hierarchy of rats. They found that male rats, who were dominant, sniffed more often than subordinate males. These signals served as a conflict avoidance signal, which was interpreted as an indication of dominance. Female rats responded to this signal by reducing their sniffing rates.
The study showed that when two rats were housed together, they were able to establish a bond and rapport within a short time. They were able to communicate using sensory feedback, and the first rat even modified its brain signals to help the second rat find its reward. This interaction helped both rats work together and achieve their goals.
The chemical signals used by rats are called pheromones. These odors are important for signalling, and rats use these to attract mates, mark their territory, and signal warnings. They can also use pheromones to signal fear to their companions.
