title: Volatile compounds from anal glands of the wolverine, Gulo gulo.
abstract: Dichloromethane extracts of wolverine (Gulo gulo, Mustelinae, Mustelidae) anal gland secretion were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The secretion composition was complex and variable for the six samples examined: 123 compounds were detected in total, with the number per animal ranging from 45 to 71 compounds. Only six compounds were common to all extracts: 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, phenylacetic acid, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol, and a compound tentatively identified as 2-methyldecanoic acid. The highly odoriferous thietanes and dithiolanes found in anal gland secretions of some members of the Mustelinae [ferrets, mink, stoats, and weasels (Mustela spp.) and zorillas (Ictonyx spp.)] were not observed. The composition of the wolverine's anal gland secretion is similar to that of two other members of the Mustelinae, the pine and beech marten (Martes spp.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA. wfw2@humboldt.edu
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Miranda N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Terwilliger
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Copeland
mesh_terms: D000695:Anal Sacs / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D045969:Mustelidae; D014835:Volatilization