title: Lipid components in anal scent sacs of three mongoose species (Helogale parvula, Crossarchus obscurus, Suricata suricatta).
abstract: Anal sac secretions of three social mongoose species (Helogale parvula, Crossarchus obscurus, andSuricata suricatta) were chemically analyzed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds with high molecular weights (greater than 250) were found to distinguish the three species. Differences in composition suggest a possible species-specific role in scent marking. MaleH. parvula had vitamin E present in the anal sac, whereas it was absent in the females. This suggests a possible sex-specific function of vitamin E inH. parvula. No differences in chemical composition were found between male and femaleS. suricatta. Ten compounds were found in femaleC. obscurus that were not present in the male.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Ethology M313 Walters Life Science, University of Tennessee, 37996, Knoxville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ringelberg
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: White