How rodents communicate using pheromones

Rodents excrete chemicals known as pheromones which are used in communication and triggering behaviours. Three types of pheromones are most commonly used by rodents for communicating; the releaser, the primer and the signaler. In layman terms, pheromones act as a secret language between animals of the same species. For instance, the rodent would secrete a pheromone to notify others in their species about different details such as to alert the others that a predator is nearby, to establish relationship recognition bonds and calling others to gather food. The three types are discussed in more detail below.

Releaser Pheromone

This hormone is usually released in the urine of the rodent so that others in the species can smell the message it wants to relay. Three messages can be communicated with this hormone:

-The releaser wants to attract the opposite sex and therefore it elicits sexual attraction.
-Mother rodents would release this to communicate to their spawn that they are ready to nurse.
-The releaser rodent is notifying other rodents within the species that they are in their territory.



Primer Pheromone

This hormone is mainly used for eliciting changes in the reproductive system and can cause changes to the hormonal levels of the rodents.

-The female rodent would release it to communicate to the male species that it is ready for sexual intercourse. In other words, it acts like a perfume to attract the male species to the female for sex.
-When the male smells this pheromone, it would then send out its own pheromone to communicate that it accepts the challenge of the female.
-The pheromone sent out by the male is so powerfully scented that it can trigger immediate maturity in females and even cause them to have miscarriages.
-The primer pheromone is therefore mostly used to communicate between the different sexes within the species that it wishes to procreate.

Signaler Pheromone

This pheromone is also known as the Information pheromone and it is used to communicate or identify something specific about an individual rodent.
-Mother’s release this pheromone to help their spawn recognize who they are
-It can be used to communicate whether a predator is around
-Some rodents use it to communicate what was their last meal
-It communicates the health of the rodent, example, it lets others know if they are in good health or bad

While humans use verbal languages, sign language and text to communicate, rodents use a high pitch squeak or release pheromones. The rodent’s pheromones are highly scented and left behind in their trail. Then have an organ in their nose that is sensitive to pheromones which is what they use to find these scents. In other words, signals are sent from the release of pheromones left behind wherever they walk and signals are received when other rodents pick up on their scent. The urine is the most common method used to release these pheromones. The pheromones is not only used as a way to communicate but it can trigger behaviours in rodents.


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