Data for: Kin recognition for incest avoidance in Damaraland mole-rats, Fukomys damarensis

Across taxa, breeding among close relatives is usually avoided because it incurs fitness costs to offspring. Incest is often averted through the dispersal of either sex from the natal area to breed. In some philopatric species, association among relatives extends into adulthood, and an ability to discriminate kin may be required for individuals to reduce inbreeding risk. Here, we aim to determine the mechanism of kin recognition for incest avoidance in the Damaraland mole-rat Fukomys damarensis, a cooperative breeder characterized by extreme reproductive skew. Pairs of opposite-sex adults were formed in the laboratory and, within pairs, genetic relatedness and degree of familiarity were manipulated through cross-fostering experiments. We found that unfamiliar pairs were more likely to engage in sexual behaviours and bred more successfully than familiar pairs, regardless of their genetic similarity.  Females paired with unfamiliar males were also more likely to exhibit reproductive activ..., The experiment was initially carried out on 32 pairs of opposite-sex individuals that were either: (i) familiar kin (n = 8); (ii) familiar non-kin (n = 8); (iii) unfamiliar kin (n = 8); or (iv) unfamiliar non-kin (n = 8), in a full factorial treatment design. 
Behavioural observations were carried out to quantify copulation, defined as one individual mounting another and attempting intromission with pelvic thrusts, and sex foreplay, defined as the rapid succession of bites, sparring, sniffs, passes, and drumming. A full ethogram of these and other observed mole-rat behaviours are presented in Supplementary Table S1A. Behavioural observations consisted of focal and scan sampling. Focals were carried out on the female. One two-hour focal session was carried out immediately after pairing (day 0, approximately 1000 SAST), and another one-hour focal session the following day (day 1, approximately 0800 SAST). Focal behaviours were sampled as ‘states’, recorded with a start and an end time, or..., , # Data for: Kin recognition for incest avoidance in Damaraland mole-rats, Fukomys damarensis

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k6djh9wgd](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k6djh9wgd)

## Description of the data

Data sets and code are provided for 1. Behavioural Analysis and 2. Hormone Analysis.

The experiment was carried out on 31 pairs of opposite-sex individuals that were either: (i) familiar kin (*n* = 8); (ii) familiar non-kin (*n* = 8); (iii) unfamiliar kin (*n* = 7); or (iv) unfamiliar non-kin (*n* = 8), in a full factorial treatment design.

Behavioural observations were carried out to quantify copulation, defined as one individual mounting another and attempting intromission with pelvic thrusts, and sex foreplay, defined as the rapid succession of bites, sparring, sniffs, passes, and drumming. Behavioural observations consisted of focal and scan sampling. Focals were carried out on the female. One two-hour focal session was carried out immediately after pairing (day 0, approximatel...