Ventral marking in black and agouti gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Male and female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) of both agouti and black coat color variations were tested for ventral marking in an open field. Males marked more than females and black gerbils marked more than the agouti animals. Black females marked at levels equal to those of agouti males, and thus they may be useful in future investigations of neural and hormonal factors affecting ventral marking in females. Such research was difficult in the past because of the extremely low levels of marking normally exhibited by agouti females.