A pair of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) kiss at the entrance to a burrow in Badlands National Park, South Dakota. When prairie dogs encounter other prairie dogs in their territories, they sniff each other's perianal scent glands to make sure that they are from the same family group. Prairie dogs are very social and live in large colonies called prairie dog towns, but closely interact only with members of their own family. Kissing may be a signal that they recognize their own kin.
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