Self-anointing in animals
A behaviour whereby a non-human animal smears odoriferous substances over themselves / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Self-anointing in animals, sometimes called anointing or anting, is a behaviour whereby a non-human animal smears odoriferous substances over themselves. These substances are often the secretions, parts, or entire bodies of other animals or plants. The animal may chew these substances and then spread the resulting saliva mixture over their body, or they may apply the source of the odour directly with an appendage, tool or by rubbing their body on the source.[1]
The functions of self-anointing differ between species, but it may act as self-medication,[2] repel parasites, provide camouflage, aid in communication, or make the animal poisonous.