A male mouse housed alone in a home cage will readily attack a male mouse placed into the home cage, but will not attack a female mouse. Which of the following is a key factor as to whether the resident male mouse decides to attack or not attack the strange male mouse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Male mice are able to detect pheromones, which are chemicals released by other mice that can communicate information such as sex and dominance status. It is believed that the resident male mouse is able to detect the pheromones of the stranger male and thus decides to attack. Female mice also release pheromones, but these may not trigger aggression in the resident male.

A Male Mouse Housed Alone in a Home Cage Will