Did you know? Flehmen May 20 2008
Flehmen is a behaviour observed in many mammals, which involves curling or pulling back the upper lip so as to perceive a scent.
The scent may be that of prey or of females of the same species. This action enables the animal to draw pheromones into the roof of the mouth, where the Jacobson’s organ identifies the chemicals in the scent.
The scent carries information such as whether a female is in oestrus (ready to mate) and when another animals passed by.
You can see animals flehmening in these Earth-Touch clips:
Zebra stallion scents mare in oestrus
Giraffes courting
Vultures at the lions’ table
Image © Earth-Touch 2008
Source:
Helmenstine AM, ‘Jacobson’s Organ and the Sixth Sense’, About.Com: Chemistry. Retrieved 20 May, 2008, from http://chemistry.about.com/cs/medical/a/aa051601a.htm
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