Banded mongooses discriminate relatedness and MHC diversity in unfamiliar conspecifics
Nadine Schubert, Carolin Stober, Maibrit Born, Francis Mwanguhya, Robert Businge, Solomon Kyambulima, Kenneth Mwesige, Michael A. Cant, Hazel J. Nichols, Jamie C. Winternitz
This study shows banded mongooses use odor cues to assess MHC diversity and genetic relatedness in unfamiliar conspecifics, showing more interest in less MHC diverse and less related individuals.
Behavioral Ecology · Dec 4, 2025Peer-reviewedAnimal Behavior & Cognition