Abstract: Odor preference and behavioral interactions of unrelated and unfamiliar adult ratlike hamsters (Cricetulus triton) were studied during the nonbreeding season in the laboratory.In Y-maze,focal hamsters preferred odors of conspecific bedding materials to those of control cotton;focal males responses did not show a sexual difference between males and females odors,while focal females preferred males odors to females .Focal hamsters spent more time in either arm of Y-maze with hamster demonstrator than another control arm;focal males spent more time in one of arms with same-sex hamster demonstrator than another with the opposite-sex individual,while focal females did not displayed such a difference.The staged dyadic encounters were conducted in a neutral arena;paired encounters between both same sexes and opposite sexes contained frequent agonistic acts and few amiable acts;the victors had more attack and flank gland marking than the losers,this indicated flank gland marking was positively related to gonistic behavior and dominant status.