Courtship behavior among musk‐ox males kept in confinement

• Published in: Zoo Biology
• Main Author: Reinhardt, Viktor
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1985
• Subjects: musk ox; ovibos moschatus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/zoo.1430040311; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fzoo.1430040311; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/zoo.1430040311

Abstract During twelve 2‐h observation sessions courtship behavior was recorded among seven musk‐ox males ( Ovibos moschatus ) kept in a paddock together with six females. The animals were sexually mature and of the same age. Foreleg kicking and genital sniffing were more common than mounting. All three activities were of a nonaggressive nature but were shown almost exclusively by dominants toward subordinate partners. Assuming the role of courted females, recipients were never the target of aggressive acts. It was concluded that courtship among mature musk‐ox males functions as a nonaggressive reinforcement of dominance, promoting low‐risk coexistence of males.