Territorial pheromone
- Pronunciation
- /ter-i-tor-ee-al fer-uh-mohn/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Territorial pheromone
- Plural
- Territorial pheromones
Definition
Chemical signals released by an individual to mark and defend a specific territory.
Etymology
From Latin 'territorius', meaning 'of or relating to territory' and Greek 'pheromone'.
Example
The male dung beetle uses territorial pheromones to mark its territory and deter other males.
Related Terms
- Territory
- Defense
- Marking
Usage Notes
Territorial pheromones often play a role in intraspecific communication and can influence social interactions between individuals.