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Category: Data

Description: In this study, we investigated if male and female tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) could discriminate between a familiar mate, with which they had mated with for one year, and an unfamiliar, potentially new mate using pheromones. We presented five different stimuli, a paper control, a peppermint control, their own odour, the odour of a familiar mate and the odour of an unfamiliar mate. We retested animals for four times to understand if their ability to discriminate decreases over time. We found that both males and females can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar mates but females show more tongue flicks towards the odour of an unfamiliar mate, while males show more tongue flicks towards the odour of a familiar mate. Additionally, over time, responses only decreased towards the odour of a familiar mate.