Latrine Ecology of Nilgai Antelope
Author(s): Lisa D. Zoromski, Randy W. DeYoung, John A. Goolsby, Aaron M. Foley, J. Alfonso Ortega-S., David G. Hewitt, and Tyler A. Campbell
Published: June 2022
The use of scent for communication is widespread in mammals, yet the role of scent-marking in the social system of many species is poorly understood. Nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are native to India, Nepal, and Pakistan. They were introduced to Texas rangelands in the United States during the 1920s to 1940s, and have since expanded into much of coastal South Texas and northern Mexico. The nilgai social system includes the use of latrines or repeated defecation at a localized site. We quantified and described physical and behavioral characteristics of nilgai latrine ecology to investigate drivers of latrine use at three sites in South Texas, during April 2018 to March 2019.
Suggested Citation
Zoromski, L. D., R. W. DeYoung, J. A. Goolsby, A. M. Foley, J. A. Ortega-S., D. G. Hewitt, and T. A. Campbell. 2022. Latrine ecology of nilgai antelope. Journal of Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyac056