The role of the vomeronasal system in food preferences of the gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica

Abstract

Although feeding deficits have been reported in snakes and lizards following vomeronasal system disruption, no deficit has been previously reported in a mammal. We tested gray short-tailed opossums with items from four different food categories prior to occluding access to the vomeronasal organ. Preoperatively, opossums preferred meat to fruit or vegetables. Following occlusion of the nasopalatine canal, but not after control treatment, opossums failed to demonstrate food preferences. © 2005 Halpern et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.