Middens are communal dung piles used by rhinos as important scent-marking and communication sites. Multiple individuals may repeatedly defecate at the same location, allowing rhinos to detect chemical information from the dung and identify the presence and activities of other individuals.
Although rhinos are largely solitary, middens facilitate indirect social interaction. They can convey information about territorial presence, movement and reproductive status, helping rhinos communicate without direct physical contact.
APSC Relevance: Rhino Middens, Animal Behaviour
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