title: Characterization, synthesis, and behavioral responses to sex attractiveness pheromones of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis).
abstract: The sex attractiveness pheromone of the red-sided garter snake,Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, has been characterized as a mixture of 13 long-chain (C29-C37) saturated and monounsaturated methyl ketones. Samples of the major unsaturated ketones in the mixture, (Z)-24-tritriaconten-2-one (7) and (Z)-26-pentatriaconten-2-one (10), and their saturated analogs, 2-tritriacontanone (8) and 2-pentatriacontanone (11) were prepared by unambiguous synthesis. In field bioassay tests, male garter snakes were presented with natural and synthetic pheromone components both individually and as a mixture. Males exhibited courtship behavior to the synthetic compounds approximating the natural blend.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemistry, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 20892, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Fales
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Pannell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crews