Possible significance of anogenital licking by female rat during precopulatory behavioural patterns

Possible significance of licking of anogenital region by female rat in the initial steps of precopulatory behaviour was studied in short bouts of 3 min each. The order of conspicuous events was (1) exploratory behaviour, (2) partners pursuing each other, (3) head-to-tail orientation and mutual licking of anogenital regions; particularly when females were in oestrous and metoestrous stages and (4) obvious avoidance and even aggressive behaviour by female during dioestrous stage.