Urine-Dribbling

A musth male showing continual dribbling of urine from a retracted and sheathed penis. The flow may vary from an intermittent drip to a gushing stream, depending upon the activity of the male. Standing still Urine-Dribbling may almost cease, while when walking or interacting dribbling may increase to a stream, or may gush out when the male is threatening another.

Musth males may lose up to 300 litres of urine per day through Urine-Dribbling and, consequently, they drink more water than non-musth males. The continual dribbling of urine gives the inner hind legs black shiny appearance and may turn the sheath of the penis a light greenish coloration. The urine has a very pungent odor that can be detected downwind from the musth male and from the urine trail he deposits.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Poole 1982: 49, illustrations 4.3, 4.4; Poole & Moss 1981; Poole 1987a: 298 photo; Hall-Martin 1987; Moss 1988; Poole 1989a; Kahl & Armstrong, 2002: 163 photo Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Advertisement & Attraction

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (1)

A male in musth and a close up view of his sheathed penis, that is wet and "greenish" showing that he has been Dribbling-Urine. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (2)

A musth male walks past the filmmakers vehicle. It is not possible to see the Urine-Dribbling, but we can see that his legs are wet from it. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (3)

A male in musth walks past the filmmakers Urine-Dribbling. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (4)

A young male who is just coming into musth begins to Urine-Dribble as he Charges toward a herd of wildebeest. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (5)

Pascal in musth is Guarding Wissal and is Urine-Dribbling. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (6)

A medium sized male in musth. He is Urine-Dribbling at level 4 out of 10 and the sheath of his penis has a greenish tinge. His temporal glands are only slightly swollen and he has a very thin line of secretion. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (7)

Pascal is with two estrous females, Amparo whom he has just Mated and Miranda who is still following him. He is Urine-Dribbling. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (8)

A musth male Musth-Rumbles and Ear-Waves at our vehicle as he steps up onto the road right in front of us. He towers over us Urine-Dribbling. As he Sashays across the road his Urine-Dribbling increases from about level 4 to 10, splashing out; he gives a musth exhale and another Ear-Wave as he continues on his way. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (9)

As Pascal walks past our car he Musth-Rumbles, Ear-Waves and Trunk-Drags. He is Urine-Dribbling at rate 7. He shows extreme Temporal-Gland-Swelling and Fresh-4 Temporal-Gland-Secretion. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (10)

Nine year old Nastya is in estrus and is being Guarded by Pascal in musth. She gets separated from him and is being pursued by another large male and a young male who tries to Mount her. Pascal intervenes Advancing-Toward the males from the right, Musth-Rumbling and Urine-Dribbling at rate 9. Nastya makes an arc and circles back to Pascal, Soliciting-Guarding from him. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Urine-Dribbling

Context: Advertisement & Attraction (11)

Qadija is in estrus being Guarded by Pascal in musth. She Urinates and he turns around to test it and engage in Flehmen. In a close up we can see he has a Penis-Erection and is Urine-Dribbling at rate 4 and that this is mixed with sinewy semen. We know that Pascal is ready to Mate with Qadija. Guarding males rarely have erections until they are ready to Mount a female. (Amboseli, Kenya)