Volatile components in defensive spray of the hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura.
GC-MS analysis of the anal sac secretion from the hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura, showed the following seven major components comprised 99% of the volatiles in this secretion: (E)-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, S-(E)-2-butenyl thioacetate, S-3-methylbutenyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, 2-methylquinoline, and 2-quinolinemethanethiol. Minor volatile components identified in this secretion are phenylmethanethiol, S-phenylmethyl thioacetate. S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate, bis[(E)-2-butenyl] disulfide, (E)-2-butenyl 3-methylbutyl disulfide, bis(3-methylbutyl) disulfide, and S-2-quinolinemethyl thioacetate. This secretion is similar to that of the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, differing only in that it contains four compounds not reported from the striped skunk: phenylmethanethiol, S-phenylmethyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, and S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate.
Wood
William F
WF
Department of Chemistry, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521, USA. wfw2@humboldt.edu
Sollers
Brian G
BG
Dragoo
Gwen A
GA
Dragoo
Jerry W
JW
D000336:Aerosols; D000695:Anal Sacs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D012889:Mephitidae; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014835:Volatilization
D000336:Aerosols; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds