High olfactory sensitivity to conspecific intestinal fluid in the chameleon cichlid Australoheros facetus: could faeces signal dominance?

The present study shows that the olfactory potency of intestinal and bile fluids taken from dominant male chameleon cichlids Australoheros facetus is greater than those from subordinate males. Thus, dominant status may be communicated by odorants released in the intestinal fluid and bile acids may contribute towards this.