A tigress in Tadoba smells the air around her, likely trying to analyse the scent left behind by a male. This behaviour – when an animal curls back its upper lip, exposes its front teeth and inhales with its nostrils closed – is called Flehmen. The pose is usually held for several seconds and is performed by a wide range of mammals including ungulates and felids. The behaviour facilitates the transfer of pheromones and other scents into the vomeronasal organ located above the roof of the mouth via a duct which exits just behind the front teeth of the animal.
Disclaimer: The author is associated with Wildlife Conservation Trust. The views and opinions expressed in the article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Wildlife Conservation Trust.
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